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FC Cincinnati
Major League Soccer
Jul 14, 2022 at 1am UK
Nippert Stadium
Vancouver Whitecaps

Cincinnati
2 - 2
Vancouver

Barreal (3'), Vazquez (23')
Nwobodo (52'), Blackett (58')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Gauld (5'), Dajome (82')
Teibert (38'), Gauld (90+3')

Preview: FC Cincinnati vs. Vancouver Whitecaps - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Major League Soccer clash between FC Cincinnati and Vancouver Whitecaps, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Eastern Conference side FC Cincinnati will welcome Western Conference outfit Vancouver Whitecaps to the TQL Stadium for their MLS encounter on Thursday.

The hosts have won, drawn and lost two games each in their last six on home soil, while the visitors have suffered defeat in seven of their nine away matches this season.


Match preview

FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan during the first half against the Charlotte FC at Bank of America Stadium on March 26, 2022© Reuters

Cincinnati extended their unbeaten run to five matches and played out their third successive score draw when they drew 1-1 with Eastern Conference leaders New York Red Bulls last weekend.

Lewis Morgan's 29th-minute penalty cancelled out a 21st-minute opener from Brandon Vazquez, before the hosts were reduced to nine men in the second half with both Allan Cruz and Luciano Acosta shown red cards – the former dismissed for two bookable offences while the latter was shown a straight red for an apparent headbutt on Aaron Long in stoppage time.

Despite the draw, Pat Noonan's side remain seventh and inside the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind the Red Bulls at the summit.

Cincinnati have already claimed more points (26) this term than in each of their previous three MLS campaigns, accumulating only 20 points last season, 16 points in 2020 and 24 points in 2019.

The Orange and Blue head into Thursday's encounter having only faced Vancouver once before, losing 2-1 on home soil in August 2019.

Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Ryan Raposo (27) celebrates his goal against Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia (29) (not pictured) with forward Lucas Cavallini (9) during the second half at BC Place on April 3, 2022© Reuters

Vancouver Whitecaps saw their four-game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an end when they suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Minnesota United last weekend.

After a goalless first half, Lucas Cavallini came off the bench to put the hosts in front in the 66th minute, but the visitors came from behind to claim all three points courtesy of strikes from Kemar Lawrence, Luis Amarilla and Franco Fragapane.

That result has seen Vanni Sartini's men slip down to 10th in the Western Conference, three points behind Nashville SC in seventh who occupy the final playoff spot.

Vancouver have performed much better on home soil so far this season, accumulating 18 points from their 10 matches at BC Place, while they have only claimed six points from nine games on the road.

After beating Dallas 2-0 in their last away match, the Whitecaps will be looking to secure back-to-back away wins for the first time since August 2018 when they face Cincinnati on Thursday.

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • D

Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L

Vancouver Whitecaps form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • L


Team News

FC Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against CF Montreal in the first half at TQL Stadium on April 2, 2022© Reuters

Cincinnati will be without suspended duo Cruz and Acosta, with Yuya Kubo and Josh Nelson set to replace them in the first XI. Nelson's inclusion will likely see Alvaro Barreal switch from the left side of midfield to the number 10 role.

Ronald Matarrita has undergone ankle surgery and is set to be sidelined for some time, while Junior Moreno, Dominique Badji and Calvin Harris all remain out with leg injuries.

Vazquez and Brenner, who have scored 14 goals between them this term, are expected to continue up front, while a back three of Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron and Tyler Blackett is set to remain intact.

As for Vancouver, Michael Baldisimo (concussion) and Caio Alexandre (groin) are both doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff, while Deiber Caicedo (knee), Sebastian Berhalter (foot), Thomas Hasal (finger), Cristian Gutierrez and Luis Martins (both calf) all remain sidelined with injuries.

Cavallini's strike last weekend was his six of the season and his fifth in his last seven MLS matches, so the forward will be hoping to return to the starting lineup at the expense of Cristian Dajome.

Scotsman Ryan Gauld is expected to start again in the number 10 role, while either Leonard Owusu or Andres Cubas could play alongside Russell Teibert in centre-midfield.

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hagglund, Cameron, Blackett; Gaddis, Kubo, Nwobodo, Nelson; Barreal; Vazquez, Brenner

Vancouver Whitecaps possible starting lineup:
Cropper; Brown, Veselinovic, Nerwinski; Godinho, Teibert, Owusu, Raposo; Gauld; White, Cavallini


SM words green background

We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 Vancouver Whitecaps

A closely-fought contest between two evenly-matched teams is set to take place on Thursday, but Cincinnati will be regarded as the slight favourites considering Vancouver's poor away record this term.

The hosts have performed well against New York City FC, New England Revolution and New York Red Bulls in recent weeks despite only coming away with a point on each occasion, but we feel that they could claim a slender win this time around.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Cincinnati vs Vancouver

FC Cincinnati
81.3%
Draw
12.5%
Vancouver Whitecaps
6.3%
16
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New York Red Bulls midfielder Omir Fernandez (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against the CF Montreal in the first half at Red Bull Arena on April 9, 2022
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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