Are FC Cincinnati in the middle of turning things around? The expansion franchise has been stuck in last place for most of the season, and at one point from mid-April to the end of June they had lost 11 of 12 matches.
However, they have now won two matches in a row, engendering the optimism that surrounded the club at the beginning of the season. It’s the second time this season (and in the club’s nascent history) they have won two matches in a row, and they will look to make it three in a row when they host DC United on Thursday night in the Queen City.
Don't miss the Major League Soccer action from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 18, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN.
MLS Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Check Back Later
Odds Analysis
DC United are in second place in the Eastern Conference, but they have been mired in mediocrity for two months. They are 1-2-6 in their last nine games, and the abundance of draws stings considering that most of these games were at home and the competition they were facing wasn’t great.
The Black and Red squandered golden opportunities last week, and they were fortunate to get a point against the New England Revolution. New England went up 2-0 before Leonardo Jara cut the lead in half right before halftime, and then Wilfried Zahibo picked up two yellows in 14 minutes to put DC United a man up over the final 30 minutes. DC United couldn’t break through while up a man until late when Quincy Amarikwa finally found the back of the net, salvaging a draw, but throwing away another chance at three points.
A 7-1 loss to Minnesota United at the end of June shook things up for FC Cincinnati. They knew they needed to change things up, and they have responded with wins over the Houston Dynamo and the Chicago Fire over the last two weeks.
Getting back two of their top players after Jamaica was eliminated from the Gold Cup certainly helped too. Alvas Powell and Darren Mattocks returning helped spark Cincinnati these last two weeks.
Key Absences
The severity of Luciano Acosta’s stomp on Dallas’ Paxton Pomykal two weeks ago led to a straight red card for Acosta. He sat out the game against New England, and he is reportedly going to miss this match too, depriving DC United of a playmaker.
In addition to not having Acosta, the club in the nation’s capital will be without defenders Oniel Fisher and Chris Odoi-Atsem.
Cincinnati’s midfield has been hit hard by injuries. Jimmy McLaughlin, Fatai Alashe, and Roland Lamah are all expected to miss this match, while Frankie Amaya is questionable. Defender Greg Garza has been declared out too with a calf injury.
Player to Watch
Without Acosta in the line-up, Paul Arriola should play a bigger role, just like he did last week against New England. Arriola was deployed on the right side of the midfield, but he constantly paired with Wayne Rooney up top to give the offense a jolt and was making runs up and down the wing. He has only scored one goal this season, and DC United are hoping for more.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
This feels like a draw to me. DC United have settled for draws in six of their last nine matches, and FC Cincinnati just don’t have the firepower to pull off three consecutive wins quite yet. There are no soccer betting odds for this match just yet, but the draw should have good value.
Major League Soccer Odds: FC Cincinnati 1, DC United 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
