DC United can hand FC Cincinnati their first home defeat of the 2025 MLS campaign when the two teams meet on Saturday at TQL Stadium.
A 3-3 draw versus Dallas in midweek dropped the Orange and Blue three points below the Philadelphia Union for first in the Eastern Conference, still well above DC, who are 13th following a 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution.
Match preview
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The masters of narrow victories over the past few league seasons have struggles to maintain their advantages in recent weeks.
Pat Noonan's men have dropped four points in their last two league contests in which they were in front at the half, the only two times they have done so in 2025.
The Orange and Blue have only dropped points on two occasions domestically this year, finding the back of the net in each of those encounters.
This weekend Cincy are in danger of dropping points in consecutive Major League Soccer home matches for the first time all year.
They have only given up five goals all year at TQL Stadium in this competition, allowing three in one match on Wednesday for the first time since October 2024.
FC Cincinnati are unbeaten in their last three MLS affairs versus the Black and Red, posting two clean sheets against them over that span.
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Although they have shown plenty of fight in recent weeks, DC United have made little progress in the Eastern Conference standings.
Troy Lesesne's men have points in three of their previous four games but are on a five-match winless run in this competition.
One small positive sign was the fact they finally found the back of the net on Wednesday, ending a four-match goalless streak in league play as a result.
After 16 matchdays, the Black and Red are seven points below the Eastern Conference playoff line, scoring the second-fewest goals in the conference (14).
DC have not triumphed in any of their previous three domestic affairs played outside Audi Field, without a single goal scored in that time.
While they are winless in their last three matches with Cincy, the Black and Red have points in six of their seven visits to Cincinnati all time, with the last triumph coming in 2022 (1-0).
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Team News
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A leg injury kept Yuya Kubo sidelined for Cincinnati on Wednesday, while Nick Hagglund was unavailable as he is recovering from a chest issue.
Pavel Bucha, Kevin Denkey, and Gerardo Valenzuela all found the back of the net against Dallas, but it was not enough as they conceded three times in the final 45 minutes.
Due to thigh strains, Lukas MacNaughton and Dominique Badji were sidelined for DC against the Revs, while Randall Leal had a sore knee, Jackson Hopkins sat out due to a hip strain and Christian Benteke missed another match because of an ankle problem.
Gabriel Pirani scored their equaliser in stoppage time on Wednesday, the first for the Brazilian in the 2025 MLS regular season.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hadebe, Robinson, Flores; Yedlin, Bucha, Nwobodo, Orellano; Evander; Baird, Denkey
DC United possible starting lineup:
Barraza; Herrera, Bartlett, Rowles, Schnegg; Stroud, Servania, Pirani; Kijima, Murrell, Peglow
We say: FC Cincinnati 1-0 DC United
The Black and Red are having a difficult time scoring, regardless of who features, and that should allow Cincy to play their traditional tight defensive game and come away with a narrow triumph.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
