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FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

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      Overview

      • (29') K. Kelsy
      • (49') L. Acosta (PG)
      • (60') L. Orellano
      • (90'+10') L. Acosta
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      • (43') T. Baribo
      • (55') J. Bueno
      • (90'+1') T. Baribo
      • (6') K. Keller
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      • (12') K. Wagner
      • (12') J. Elliott
      • (81') J. McGlynn
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          FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union: Preview, Prediction & Betting Tips

          This Thursday, FC Cincinnati will host Philadelphia Union in what promises to be an intriguing MLS clash. The match will take place at TQL Stadium, with both teams looking to secure crucial points for their respective campaigns. Here's an in-depth look at the two sides ahead of this Eastern Conference encounter.

          Date: 20/06/2024

          Kick-off time: 00:45

          Location: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

          FC Cincinnati have been one of the standout teams in the MLS this season. Currently sitting in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference with 36 points from 17 games, they are just behind Inter Miami, who lead the standings. The team's success has been built on a solid defensive foundation, having conceded only 18 goals thus far. This defensive resilience has provided the bedrock for their attacking talents to shine.

          Manager Pat Noonan has masterminded Cincinnati's impressive form this season. Noonan, in his tenure, has instilled a disciplined and organised defensive strategy, which has been pivotal to their success. The team's ability to maintain a tight defensive unit has made them difficult to break down, a key factor that has set them apart from many of their rivals.

          The star of the show for Cincinnati has undoubtedly been Argentinian forward Luciano Acosta. Acosta has been in scintillating form, contributing 7 goals and 12 assists in 17 games. His creativity and goal-scoring ability have been central to Cincinnati's attacking play. Alongside him, Japanese forward Yuya Kubo has also been a vital cog in the team's offensive machinery, matching Acosta's goal tally with 7 strikes of his own. The duo's chemistry and effectiveness in the final third have provided Cincinnati with a potent attacking threat.

          In stark contrast to Cincinnati's high-flying form, Philadelphia Union have experienced a challenging start to the season. Currently languishing in 8th place in the Eastern Conference with 20 points from 17 games, Philadelphia have not lived up to the pre-season expectations that saw them tipped as strong contenders for the MLS Cup.

          Philadelphia's struggles can be attributed to their inconsistency both in attack and defence. While they have managed to score 28 goals, their defensive frailties have been exposed, conceding 25 goals in the same period. This lack of balance has been a significant factor in their inability to string together a series of positive results.

          Manager Jim Curtin has found it difficult to address these issues adequately. Despite having a squad with considerable talent, the team has yet to find the right formula to turn their season around. Curtin's tactical approaches have been questioned at times, particularly given the team's underwhelming performances in key matches.

          Despite their struggles, there have been some standout performers for Philadelphia. German defender Kai Wagner has been a reliable presence at the back, often being one of the few bright spots in their defensive line. His leadership and defensive skills have been crucial in moments when the team has been under pressure.

          In midfield, young American talent Jack McGlynn has shown promise. McGlynn's performances have been a beacon of hope for Philadelphia fans, as he continues to develop and make an impact in the heart of the team's midfield. His ability to control the tempo of the game and contribute both defensively and offensively has been noteworthy.

          When it comes to recent meetings between these two sides, FC Cincinnati have had the upper hand. In their last five encounters, Cincinnati have won three times, with Philadelphia managing just one victory and the other match ending in a draw. The most recent encounter saw Cincinnati secure a narrow 1-0 win, further highlighting their dominance in this fixture.

          This match between FC Cincinnati and Philadelphia Union promises to be an intriguing contest. Cincinnati will look to continue their impressive form and solidify their position near the top of the Eastern Conference, while Philadelphia will be desperate to turn their season around and climb the standings.

          With key players on both sides, contrasting tactical approaches, and the backdrop of recent head-to-head results favouring Cincinnati, this encounter has all the ingredients for an exciting and closely-fought battle. Fans of both teams will be eagerly anticipating kick-off, hoping to see their side emerge victorious in this crucial MLS fixture.

          MLS Tips

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          FC Cincinnati To Win @ 3/4
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          MLS Tips

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          Both Teams To Score (Yes) @ 4/7
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          MLS Tips

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          FC Cincinnati To Score 2+ Goals @ 4/6
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          Team News

          FC Cincinnati Team News:

          The home side are set to be without JT Marcinkowski once again while Daniel and Jamar Ricketts are certain absentees.

          Bruno Valdez missed the trip to California last time out and is a doubt for this one.

          Philadelphia Union Team News:

          Philadelphia are coming into this game bound by a number of absentees with Holden Trent, Isaiah LeFlore, Julian Carranza, Andre Blake and Damion Lowe all likely out through injury.

          Jack Elliott will also serve the second of his two-match suspension following his red card a couple of games back.

          Form Guide

          Cincinnati's form is excellent as they come into this game having won four and lost one of their last five outings. Most recently, the side from Ohoi registered a commanding 4-2 win away at San Jose Earthquakes, with Yuya Kubo grabbing a fine hat-trick after Pavel Bucha opened the scoring.

          Prior to that, Cincinnati were beaten 0-2 by Nashville SC, a result that followed an entertaining 4-3 win over Toronto FC, a dramatic game that saw Sergio Santos notch a winner in injury-time with the scores level at 3-3, with Luca Orellano (X2) and Kevin Kelsy grabbing the other goals.

          Those results followed a 3-1 win over St. Louis City and Atlanta United, with the goals in those games coming from Luciano Acosta, Sergio Santos, Kubo and Kelsy.

          Philadelphia's form isn't quite so encouraging as they enter this one winless in their last four outings. Their latest game was a heartbreaking 1-2 loss at home to Inter Miami where despite taking the lead after three minutes thanks to Mikael Uhre, they lost the game in added time despite their opponents going down to ten men 68th minute and subsequently nine men in the 84th minute.

          Before that, Philadelphia registered three successive draws against Montréal (2-2), with the goals coming from Dániel Gazdag and Uhre, Toronto (0-0) and Charlotte (0-0).

          Those results were preceded by an impressive 3-0 win away at New England courtesy of a Gazdag brace and a goal from Julián Carranza.

          Footy Accumulators Prediction

          This one, on paper, looks more straightforward than it actually is. The home side should get the job done here, but Philadephia have been fairly good away from home and are a tough nut to crack. It will be tough to respond to how they lost to Inter Miami at the weekend, however, and given the quality of the opponent they're facing here we think their winless streak is likely to continue. FC Cincinnati 2-1 Philadelphia Union.

          Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action. Footy Accumulators is the #1 football betting site for the latest on betting in the UK - download the Betting Hub app for more!

          Header logoMLS - Eastern Conference

          PosClubPWDLGDPTS
          2
          Team logoColumbus
          331896+3163
          3
          Team logoCincinnati
          3317511+956
          4
          Team logoOrlando
          3315711+1052
          Last updated 15/10/2024

          Header logoMLS - Eastern Conference

          PosClubPWDLGDPTS
          10
          Team logoToronto
          3411419-2137
          11
          Team logoPhiladelphia
          3391014+837
          12
          Team logoAtlanta United
          3391014-437
          Last updated 15/10/2024

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