Preview: FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte FC - prediction, team news, lineups

FC Cincinnati can extend their domestic unbeaten run to four matches on Sunday when they host Charlotte FC in MLS action at TQL Stadium.

Heading into this weekend, the Orange and Blue are second in the Eastern Conference, drawing Inter Miami 0-0 in their previous league contest, while the Crown are seventh after a 2-0 win at home to Toronto.

Match preview

Following an up-and-down Leagues Cup campaign which saw them claim points in two of their three games, Cincinnati can now put their sole focus on the remainder of the regular season.

With nine matches to go, they are just a single point behind the Philadelphia Union in the Supporters' Shield race heading into weekend play, and are three wins shy of equalling their total from 2024 (18).

Pat Noonan’s side have not conceded a single goal in any of their last three MLS matches, keeping the highest scoring team in the league (Inter Miami) off the scoresheet the last time out.

A win on Sunday would not only ensure they remain near the top of the table, but they would also surpass their number of home victories from the 2024 season as well (seven).

The Orange and Blue are unbeaten domestically in 2025 when leading after 45 minutes, dropping points in only two of those 11 instances this year.

Over half of their goals scored in the competition this year have come at TQL Stadium (22 of 39), with Cincy netting in every one of those home contests so far.

The Crown ended their Leagues Cup campaign on a positive note, beating Monterrey 2-0, after losing their first two matches of that tournament.

They seem to have been better domestically since July, though, riding a five-match unbeaten run in this competition heading into Sunday.

Those last four matches were all victories for the Crown, making it their longest regular season winning run since they entered the league in 2022.

They will be happy to know that only three of their remaining league contests after Sunday will be away from home, with this team losing seven of their last nine matches in this competition as the visitors.

On four occasions in MLS this year, Dean Smith’s men have come from behind to earn a positive result despite conceding first, collecting 10 points in that position.

Charlotte are unbeaten in their last three meetings against FC Cincinnati, including a 3-1 triumph in this exact fixture a year ago.

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:

FC Cincinnati form (all competitions):

Charlotte FC Major League Soccer form:

Charlotte FC form (all competitions):

Team News

A sore foot may keep Paul Walters out of the Cincinnati fold Sunday, Obinna Nwobodo is doubtful due to a quad strain, Yuya Kubo has an ankle issue and Kevin Denkey is unlikely to feature because of a leg injury.

Roman Celentano stopped three Inter Miami efforts in their previous league fixture to collect his third successive clean sheet in this competition.

A neck strain could keep Nathan Byrne sidelined for Charlotte this weekend, Souleyman Doumbia is doubtful with a hamstring strain, while Ashley Westwood will be suspended due to yellow card accumulation.

Idan Toklomati and Kerwin Vargas netted second-half goals for them against Toronto, while Kristijan Kahlina made three stops to pick up a clean sheet.

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:

Celentano; Robinson, Miazga, Hadebe; Yedlin, Bucha, Anunga, Orellano, Evander; Kamara, Santos

Charlotte FC possible starting lineup:

Kahlina; Tuiloma, Malanda, Ream, Marshall-Rutty; Williamson, Bronico; Vargas, Biel, Zaha, Toklomati

We say: FC Cincinnati 1-0 Charlotte FC

Only one of Charlotte’s last four victories came against a side currently in a playoff position (New York City FC), and they should face a much tougher test against a Cincinnati squad that are finding their form defensively.

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