FC Cincinnati will look to continue their eye-catching start to the Major League Soccer season on Saturday, when they welcome Philadelphia Union to TQL Stadium.
The hosts sit at the top of the Eastern Conference, having gone unbeaten in their first six games of the campaign, while their visitors are seven points worse off in eighth place.
Match preview
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After finishing fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference last season and dropping out of the playoffs at the hands of Saturday's opponents, FC Cincinnati have enjoyed an eye-catching start to the new league campaign, as they currently top the conference and remain unbeaten after their first six outings.
The Orange and Blue began with two victories and two draws, as beatings of Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders were followed by draws with Orlando City and Chicago Fire respectively, with the latter ending 3-3 after they trailed 3-1 heading into the final minutes, as Sergio Santos and Junior Moreno got on the scoresheet late on to force a share of the spoils and preserve Pat Noonan's side's unbeaten run.
They would then make it three victories from the opening five outings in a trip to Nashville SC, as Brandon Vazquez netted the only goal of the game at the beginning of the second half, before the Orange and Blue looked to make it back-to-back three-point-hauls for the first time this season last time out at home to Inter Miami.
Yerson Mosquera opened the scoring in that contest on the stroke of half time to give Noonan's men the lead, and they would again stand strong, seeing out a fourth MLS clean sheet of the campaign to remain in front and add another notch to their wins column.
Now sitting pretty at the summit of the Eastern Conference thanks to their fine start, albeit at an early stage of the season, FC Cincinnati have the chance to further establish their position in the leading pack with a what would be a third straight win and their fifth of the year on Saturday.
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They meet a Philadelphia side who dumped them out of last season's playoffs before reaching the grand final and only being denied the MLS Cup glory by goals late in injury time and extra time from Los Angeles FC.
After missing out by the barest of margins, Jim Curtin's side set out to go one better and secure the trophy this term, and they have experienced a mixed start, while also being involved in CONCACAF Champions League action.
Their league campaign began with victories over Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire, either side of a defeat to Inter Miami, while they progressed past Alianza in the continental round of 16 with a 4-0 aggregate triumph, but Curtin's side have been unable to put another MLS victory on the board in three attempts since, firstly suffering back-to-back defeats at the hands of Montreal CF and Orlando City.
Philadelphia Union were then unable to halt their winless run last weekend, as they had to settle for a goalless draw at home to a Sporting KC side who are yet to triumph in this season's MLS, and they now head into the weekend on the back of another CONCACAF Champions League victory, as they beat Atlas 1-0 on home turf on Wednesday in the first leg of their quarter-final tie courtesy of Daniel Gazdag's converted penalty in the dying minutes.
Having not yet replicated last year's form or their current continental antics in this MLS season, Curtin's side will be desperate to properly kickstart their league campaign by handing Cincinnati their first defeat this weekend.
Team News
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On the back of their second straight MLS win, FC Cincinnati could come into Saturday's game with an unchanged starting XI, with Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Yerson Mosquera again set to join Nick Hagglund and Matt Miazga in a back three.
Further forward, Marco Angulo and Junior Moreno should continue to partner up in the engine room, with captain Luciano Acosta lending support to a front two.
The line will likely be led by Brandon Vazquez and Brenner, although Sergio Santos is fighting for a second start of the campaign, having featured off the bench in each of their last three league outings.
Despite the quick turnaround, Philadelphia Union will likely field a similar starting XI to the one that beat Atlas last time out, although Jack Elliott should reclaim his place alongside Jakob Glesnes in the middle of a back four on Saturday.
Jose Martinez and Alejandro Bedoya are key men in midfield and will again feature from the outset, with Andres Perea, Jack McGlynn and Leon Flach fighting for the final spot in the engine room.
Daniel Gazdag will continue to play a key role in attack, after netting his fourth goal of the season on Wednesday, having also contributed two assists in MLS, with Mikael Uhre and Julian Carranza set to complete the front three.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hagglund, Miazga, Mosquera; Gaddis, Angulo, Moreno, Barreal; Acosta; Brenner, Vazquez
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Harriel, Glesnes, Elliott, Real; Bedoya, Martinez, McGlynn; Uhre, Carranza, Gazdag
We say: FC Cincinnati 1-0 Philadelphia Union
FC Cincinnati have excelled so far this season, particularly in defence, and with home advantage, we back them to score another 1-0 victory against a Philadelphia Union side who are yet to hit their stride and face a fast turnaround from a tough continental outing.
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Top tip
Sam Varley
