FC Cincinnati will be looking to bounce back to winning ways in the MLS on Thursday when they play host to a stuttering FC Dallas at TQL Stadium.
The hosts are in second place in the Eastern Conference with 29 points after 15 league games, while the visitors are 11th in the West with 16 points in 14 matches.
Match preview
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Few teams have put in as much time and money to strengthen in defence as FC Cincinnati over the past few years, and those investments have served them well this season, as they sit just one point behind Philadelphia at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
However, that defensive solidity went missing last weekend, when the Orange and Blue conceded four goals, including two in the space of five first-half minutes, in their 4-2 defeat to Atlanta United.
Miles Robinson and Gerardo Valenzuela got on the scoresheet in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to spark hopes of a comeback, but Jamal Thiare struck the back of the net late in the game to secure the three points for the Five Stripes.
Notably, both first-half goals that Cincinnati conceded last week came after their star centre-back Nick Hagglund was forced off due to an injury, leaving Pat Noonan with a significant void to fill in the foreseeable future.
Despite that setback, FCC will be full of confidence coming into this one, given their record this season at TQL Stadium, where they are still unbeaten after six games and scored two or more goals in four of those matches.
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Meanwhile, FC Dallas have struggled for consistency over the early stages of the season, as reflected by their record of four wins, four draws and six losses in their first 14 games of the 2025 campaign.
The Toros lost their last game 1-0 away to the Seattle Sounders last week, marking their third consecutive defeat across all competitions and fourth match in a row without victory, a period during which they were also knocked out of the US Open Cup by the Red Bulls.
One of the major contributors to Eric Quill's side's underwhelming start to the season has been their attacking output, as they have netted just 15 to date - the fourth-fewest in the conference, and failed to find the net in three of their last four league games.
The visitors lost their last two away games and conceded six goals without response in those matches, which is a significant downturn after going unbeaten in their first five on the road this season, winning three and drawing two.
Team News
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After leaving the field over the weekend, Hagglund was taken to the hospital, where it was revealed he had suffered two broken ribs and confirmed that he will be out of action for several weeks.
Zimbabwe international Teenage Hadebe is the most likely to slot into FCC's defence in Hagglund's absence, while Yuya Kubo is the only other player flagged as a doubt for the hosts this week.
For Dallas, after a very quiet 45, Anderson Julio was hooked at the half time interval against the Sounders over the weekend and could be replaced in the starting lineup by Bernard Kamungo in midweek.
The visitors have just two injury absentees for this week's trip to the TQL Stadium, with the midfield duo of Leo Chu and Sebastian Lletget both ruled out due to a knee and leg injury, respectively.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hadebe, Miazga, Robinson; Orellano, Bucha, Nwobodo, Engel; Valenzuela, Evander; Denkey
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Paes; Abubakar, Ibeagha, Urhoghide, Farfan; Show, Ramiro; Pedrinho, Delgado, Kamungo; Farrington
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 Dallas
FC Dallas have not been in good form of late, currently winless in their last four games, while failing to score in three of those matches. Cincinnati, meanwhile, lost their last match, but they are one of only two teams still unbeaten at home in the MLS this season, and we feel they will leave this match with all three points.
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Devesh Jaganath
