Preview:FC Cincinnati vs Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

FC Cincinnati welcome Philadelphia Union to TQL Stadium on August 31, 2025, for a crucial Major League Soccer showdown.

With the Eastern Conference race heating up and the playoffs fast approaching, this clash between contenders could prove decisive in shaping the battle for top spot.

Match preview

Pat Noonan’s side have made a habit of unsettling Philadelphia whenever the Union travel to Ohio, winning four of the last five meetings between the two at TQL Stadium, a sequence that adds a psychological edge for the hosts as the stakes rise at the business end of the season.

Yet for all that dominance in the head-to-head, the Orange and Blue approach this clash with their own vulnerabilities laid bare, as their home form has dipped alarmingly with three consecutive losses in front of their fans, a stretch in which they scored only once while conceding four times despite generating plenty of opportunities through 14 shots and close to five on target per game.

That bluntness has proven costly, as Cincinnati have slipped from a position of authority to one where their margin for error is increasingly slim, and with just two wins in their last six outings and a run of five winless home league games in six, the sense is of a team in need of a spark to reignite momentum.

Even so, the numbers still paint them as a contender, with 16 victories, four draws and eight defeats from 28 matches, leaving them second in the table with a goal difference of plus seven, and the challenge for Noonan is to translate strong underlying metrics into tangible results during the most decisive stretch of the campaign.

Philadelphia, by contrast, continue to exude the calm assurance of a team that has built a reputation on consistency, losing just once in their last six league fixtures and scoring at a rate of two goals per match while conceding only once per game - a balance that underpins their position at the top of the standings with the best defensive record in the conference.

The Union’s resilience stretches further back, with just three losses in their last 20 matches across all competitions and an unbeaten run in 17 of those encounters, evidence of a side that have become adept at grinding out results wherever they play and whatever the circumstances.

On the road, the picture is less flawless, as three defeats in their last six away games hint at vulnerabilities, but the broader narrative is of a group whose defensive structure remains difficult to breach, conceding less than a goal per league match and combining that solidity with a transition game that punishes opponents who overcommit.

With 16 wins, six draws and six losses from 28 fixtures, Philadelphia hold the same number of victories as Cincinnati but surpass them in every other column, boasting two more goals scored and a defensive record that has yielded 22 fewer goals conceded, leaving them with a formidable plus 22 goal difference that marks them out as the most balanced team in the conference.

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:

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FC Cincinnati form (all competitions):

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Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:

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Philadelphia Union form (all competitions):

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Team News

Cincinnati are stretched in key areas, with defensive duo Miles Robinson and Teenage Hadebe unavailable due to international duty, while Yuya Kubo is sidelined through injury, forcing Pat Noonan to adjust both his back line and attacking options.

A back three is likely, with Matt Miazga and Nick Hagglund tasked with leadership, supported by DeAndre Yedlin and Petr Bucha providing width and drive from the flanks.

Further forward, Obinna Nwobodo and Derrick Anunga could anchor midfield, with Evander offering creativity in the final third behind a strike pairing of Wilfried Echenique and Ibrahim Denkey, both of whom will be charged with rediscovering the cutting edge that has deserted the side at home.

Philadelphia’s preparations are relatively smooth, with Jim Curtin’s side expected to stick closely to the formula that has carried them to the summit; Andre Blake continuing in goal behind a dependable back four of Nathan Harriel, Jakob Glesnes, Olwethu Makhanya and Kai Wagner.

In midfield, Jesus Bueno and Damir Lukic will shield the defence, with Jack Sullivan adding energy, while forwards Daniel Baribo and Mikael Uhre provide the threat up front - their combination of movement and physicality a key reason for the Union’s ability to find goals without over-reliance on a single player.

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:

Celentano; Hagglund, Miazga, Engel; Yedlin, Bucha, Anunga, Engel; Evander; Echenique, Denkey

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:

Blake; Harriel, Glesnes, Makhanya, Wagner; Sullivan, Bueno, Lukic, Iloski; Baribo, Uhre

We say: FC Cincinnati 1-2 Philadelphia Union

This is a meeting between two sides whose fortunes are trending in opposite directions, with Cincinnati’s home struggles at odds with Philadelphia’s broader consistency.

The hosts will look to summon the spirit of past victories against the Union at TQL, but the visitors’ defensive strength and superior balance in both boxes could prove decisive.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.