FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 10/9/21
FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union
The MLS betting action goes on Saturday, October 9, so we’re taking a closer look at the Eastern Conference showdown between FC Cincinnati and Philadelphia Union. The Orange and Blue host the Union as +227 underdogs to earn all three points; the visitors are +125 favorites to grab a win, while a draw pays +260. These two foes meet for the first time in 2021, and Philadelphia has won three of their four MLS encounters thus far.
FC Cincinnati rides a five-game losing streak
The Orange and Blue’s free fall continues following a 1-0 home loss to the New York Red Bulls. They’ve dropped eight of their last nine games overall, including the previous five, so it’s no strange that the Orange and Blue are sitting bottom of the Eastern Conference table, five points behind the No. 13 seed and 20 behind the bottom playoff spot.
FC Cincinnati has 20 points from 27 games (W4, D8, L15), tallying an awful 28:52 goal difference. Over their previous five showings, the Orange and Blue have conceded a whopping 14 goals while scoring four in a return.
The interim head coach Tyrone Marshall cannot count on right-back Joseph-Claude Gyau and centre-back Maikel van der Werff due to injuries. Midfielder Luciano Acosta leads the way for FC Cincinnati with six goals and seven assists in 25 games, and he’s scored a couple of goals in his last three outings. The 21-year-old striker Brenner has seven goals on his tally, but the talented Brazilian has found the net only once over the last five games.
Philadelphia aims for its second win in a row
The Union are undefeated in four straight outings, recording three wins in the process along with a 1-1 road stalemate at the New York Red Bulls on the last day of September. They are coming off a nice 3-0 home victory over the Columbus Crew this past Sunday, playing the last 30 minutes with ten men on the field.
Kai Wagner was sent off last weekend and will miss Saturday’s clash against Cincinnati. The 24-year-old left-back has played all 27 MLS games for Philadelphia this season, accounting for two goals and three assists.
Phila sits at the third spot of the Eastern Conference standings with 42 points (W11, D9, L7) and a 36:26 goal difference. Over their last five contests, the Union have allowed only three goals while scoring eight in a return. The 28-year-old striker Kacper Przybylko leads the way with nine goals in 27 appearances, and he’s found the net three times over his previous four outings.
The Pick:Philadelphia to Win
The hosts have nothing to play for, while the visitors are fighting for the playoffs and need a positive result. Of course, FC Cincinnati will try its best to break out of the funk, but the Orange and Blue have a lot of things to figure out, especially on the defensive end.
On the other side, the Union’s offense has struggled for most of the season, while their defense has been top-notch. It seems the Union has turned the corner with eight goals in the last four games, so I’m expecting the visitors to win.
Interestingly, FC Cincinnati hasn’t scored a single goal in four MLS meetings with Philadelphia. Last year, the Union won 3-0 at home, while the teams played a goalless draw at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
The Total:Under 3.0 Goals
Philadelphia is tied with Nashville for the second-best scoring defense in Major League Soccer. On the other side, Cincinnati’s defense is the second-worst in the East. The Orange and Blue have scored five goals in their last four outings, so they might get that first goal versus the Union.
Despite their excellent defensive record, the Union couldn’t keep their net intact in ten straight outings on the road. Still, only one of their last eight road tilts produced more than three goals in total. I don’t feel comfortable with BTTS YES, expecting the visitors to take a patient approach and close the door should they score first.