Reigning MLS Cup champions New York City FC will be looking to climb back to the Eastern Conference summit when they travel to the TQL Stadium to face FC Cincinnati on Thursday.
The hosts have alternated between defeat and victory in their last four MLS home games, while the visitors will be hoping to avoid a third away loss in five matches.
Match preview
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Cincinnati ended a three-game winless league run with a slender 1-0 home victory over Orlando City last weekend.
After a goalless first half, Brazilian forward Brenner found the net for the first time this season – ending an 11-game goal drought – to break the deadlock in the 65th minute.
It has been a familiar sight to see the Orange and Blue positioned outside the playoff positions, but last weekend's victory helped them climb to seventh in the Eastern Conference and they are only four points behind Thursday's opponents New York City FC.
Pat Noonan's side have almost won as many games this term (seven) than they managed in their previous two MLS campaigns combined (eight), and with 18 games of the regular season still remaining, Cincinnati supporters are right to feel optimistic about their chances of a top-seven finish.
Success on Thursday, however, could prove challenging as they have lost all six previous meetings against NYCFC, including the 2-1 home defeat in their most recent encounter in September last year.
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New York City FC were unable to extend their unbeaten league run to 10 matches after they suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Philadelphia Union last weekend.
The Boys in Blue thought they had snatched a point in the 89th minute when Valentin Castellanos scored from the penalty spot to cancel out Mikael Uhre's ninth-minute opener, but a dramatic 96th-minute winner from Cory Burke condemned the visitors to their first league defeat since the beginning of April.
Interim manager Nick Cushing has seen his side knocked off their perch at the top of the Eastern Conference and slip two points behind new leaders Philadelphia, although they do have a game in hand.
NYCFC have fared much better on home soil so far this term, accumulating 20 of their 27 points at the Yankee Stadium, with only LAFC and Real Salt Lake claiming more points at home at this stage of the season. However, they will now prepare for another game on the road this week where their form has left a little to be desired.
While the Boys in Blue have only conceded five goals on the road this season, the fewest of any MLS side so far, they have failed to win four of their six away games, including three defeats.
NYCFC will be confident of returning to winning ways on Thursday, however, as they boast a 100% record against Cincinnati, winning by an aggregate score of 22-5.
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Team News
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Cincinnati defender Ronald Matarrita is set to miss the next six months after undergoing ankle surgery, while midfielder Calvin Harris and goalkeeper Alec Kann remain sidelined with respective leg and abdominal injuries.
Noonan is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup, but playmaker Luciano Acosta could return to the side at the expense of Alvaro Barreal, with the former supporting Brenner and Brandon Vazquez in attack.
As for NYCFC, their only injury concern is with versatile forward Kevin O'Toole who remains doubtful with a head issue.
Anton Tinnerholm came off the bench to make his first appearance of the season last weekend after recovering from an Achilles injury, and the 31-year-old will be hoping to force his way into the first XI ahead of teenage right-back Tayvon Gray.
Last season's Golden Boot winner Castellanos, who already has eight strikes to his name this term, is expected to led the line again and is likely to be supported in attack by Santiago Rodriguez, Maxi Moralez and Talles Mango.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hagglund, Murphy, Blackett; Gaddis, Medunjanin, Nwobodo, Nelson; Acosta; Brenner, Vazquez
New York City FC possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Gray, Chanot, Callens, Amundsen; Parks, Morales; Rodriguez, Moralez, Magno; Castellanos
We say: FC Cincinnati 1-3 New York City FC
While Cincinnati head into Thursday's contest on a high, NYCFC will have been disappointed to lose in the dying embers of their last match against another side competing with them at the top of the table.
Nevertheless, the visitors will be motivated by the prospect of returning to the summit with maximum points at the TQL Stadium, and considering their impressive record against Cincinnati, the Boys in Blue will be the strong favourites to come out on top.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
