For a second successive campaign, FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union will meet in the Eastern Conference semi-finals of Major League Soccer, this time at TQL Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams swept their opening round playoff series, with the Orange and Blue knocking out the New York Red Bulls on penalties in game two, while Philly won a scrappy second game against the New England Revolution, 1-0.
Match preview
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It will be a shot at redemption for Cincinnati this weekend as they seek a first-ever trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Pat Noonan, recently named the MLS Coach of the Year, came from the Union where he served as an assistant, and since joining Cincy his team have operated in a traditional diamond formation, transforming a club that were once the league's laughing stock into perhaps the most formidable force this year.
To capture the Supporters' Shield crown with their tactical setup is quite an achievement, given that the Orange and Blue have been slightly above average in most of their approaches, pressing a little but not a lot and doing the same regarding ball possession.
Their outstanding individual quality has made the difference for them all season long, as they possess some of the best ball-winners and technical strikers in the league.
During the regular season, TQL Stadium was a fortress for the Orange and Blue, who won a league-high 13 games, while they triumphed in their first-ever playoff home fixture, 3-0 versus the Red Bulls.
If they can emerge victorious from this upcoming clash, Cincinnati would become the first Supporters' Shield winners to make the Eastern Conference Finals since the New York Red Bulls in 2018.
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For a third successive campaign, the Union are in the conference semi-finals after holding the third-highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference this year (58 goals) to just one goal in two matches.
The Union have been sharp defensively in the post-season, conceding a goal or fewer in six of their last seven playoff fixtures since 2021, not counting the 2022 MLS Cup Final.
In 2023, though, it seems the Boys in Blue have been slightly more reserved at the back, conceding 41 times during the regular season, 15 more than they had over the previous campaign.
Jim Curtin's men are at their best when progressing the ball down the left-hand side of their midfield in their diamond setup, and they have a trio of quality front-runners capable of running onto those passes and burying even half-chances.
Although the Union have finished in a top-four position in the Eastern Conference over each of the past four regular seasons and were moments away from claiming the MLS Cup a year ago, there is a belief that their window for claiming a title may soon be closing with many players potentially on the transfer market over the off-season and the club on a limited budget.
In their 14th MLS campaign, the Union have only played two post-season matches on the road, losing on penalties to Los Angeles FC in the MLS Cup Final last year and blanking the Revs in game two of their opening round series in 2023.
Team News
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On Saturday, the Orange and Blue will be missing the MLS Defender of the Year Matt Miazga due to yellow card accumulation, Alvas Powell and London Aghedo are dealing with leg issues, Nick Hagglund will be doubtful due to a hamstring strain and Stiven Jimenez has a lower leg fracture.
Luciano Acosta has scored or assisted on four of the six goals that Cincy have scored all-time in the post-season, setting up their equaliser by Aaron Boupendza in game two against New York to send that match to penalties where Junior Moreno put home the winner in the 10th round, giving his side an 8-7 shootout victory.
Brandon Vazquez has three career goals versus Philadelphia, including the equaliser the last time they met in the regular season (2-2), though it was Acosta who had the only strike from the penalty spot the previous time they hosted the Union, as Roman Celentano made four stops to collect a clean sheet.
Jakob Glesnes will not be available for the Union on Saturday because of a core injury, while Julian Carranza is questionable with a hamstring strain and Kai Wagner is unlikely to feature due to a knock.
Chris Donovan had the only goal in their decisive game two victory over the Revolution, with Andre Blake stopping three shots for the clean sheet.
Daniel Gazdag has two goals versus the Orange and Blue, and Leon Flach had the only strike in the conference semi-finals against them last year, allowing Philly to triumph 1-0.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Mosquera, Halsey, Murphy; Arias, Kubo, Moreno, Barreal; Acosta; Vazquez, Badji
Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Mbaizo, Lowe, Elliott, Harriel; Martinez; Bedoya, McGlynn; Gazdag; Torres, Uhre
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-0 Philadelphia Union
Both teams will be without some key pieces to their lineup, but the overall depth of Cincy and the individual genius of Acosta has us leaning towards the Supporters' Shield winners getting the job done.
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