D.C. United have shown some early offensive potency but continuing that type of success likely won’t be easy against stingy FC Cincinnati.
With each team in possession of four points to open the season, D.C. United visit Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon.
Under the direction of former New York Red Bulls interim coach Troy Lesesne, D.C. United (1-0-1, 4 points) rode a Christian Benteke hat trick to their 3-1 opening home victory over the New England Revolution. Last weekend, they rallied from two goals down on late goals via Mateusz Klich and Kristian Fletcher to earn a 2-2 draw at Portland.
“I think our style as a team has been very effective, so far,” said D.C. United defender Aaron Herrera, who recorded an assist in each of the first two matches.
“Every match day, we sort of want to leave it on the field. I think we’ve been able to do that so far, and we want to just be able to do that going forward.”
D.C. is 3-1-2 all-time at Cincinnati (1-0-1, 4 points), which tries a second time for its first MLS home victory of 2024.
FCC opened with a rather frustrating scoreless home draw against Toronto FC. After goals from Aaron Boupendza and Miles Robinson led to a 2-1 victory at Chicago last Saturday, Cincinnati was victimized by former star Brandon Vazquez’s 24-minute goal in Thursday’s 1-0 home loss versus CF Monterrey in CONCACAF Champions Cup play.
“We expect to win games at home, and we know we missed out on opportunities early on (against Monterrey), then in our opener against Toronto,” FCC coach Pat Noonan said after his team went 18-3-4 in all competitions at home last season.
“If we can get three points (Sunday), that would obviously, through three games, position us well.”
Boupendza has been solid early for FC Cincinnati, recording two goals in four matches spanning MLS and Champions Cup play.
It is uncertain if Benteke will be available for D.C. United after he was a late injury scratch for the Portland match.
–Field Level Media
