FC Cincinnati looks to continue its unbeaten start when it hosts the Philadelphia Union on Saturday in a rematch of a 2022 Eastern Conference semifinal.
Philadelphia defeated Cincinnati 1-0 in that match en route to reaching its first MLS Cup. However, the teams’ fortunes have been reversed so far this season, with Cincinnati (4-0-2, 14 points) the only unbeaten team in the East and Philadelphia (2-3-1, 7 points) struggling to find its rhythm.
One explanation is the Union’s commitments in the CONCACAF Champions League. Philadelphia defeated Atlas FC 1-0 in the first leg of a quarterfinal series at home on Tuesday night and will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, for the return leg next Wednesday.
That could cause Union manager Jim Curtin to rotate some of his regulars on Saturday, although Cincinnati boss Pat Noonan isn’t expecting anything to be easier than usual.
“By no means can we look at the record and think it’s going to be any different than it has been in the past with a (Union) group that understands how to win,” Noonan said. “Winning helps, and they just won their last game against a good opponent, so I don’t see any reason why they shouldn’t be confident going into the game.”
There’s also a shared lineage. Both Noonan and Cincinnati GM Chris Albright worked in the Union organization prior to taking their current positions before to the 2022 season. FCC attacker Sergio Santos and fullback Raymon Gaddis previously played for Philadelphia.
As Curtin weighs his roster decisions, striker Mikael Uhre and midfielder Leon Flach were healthy scratches from the starting lineup on Tuesday, so they would appear likely to start. Fullback Kai Wagner has been upgraded to questionable after missing Tuesday with a hamstring issue.
Then there is the challenge he expects from Cincinnati, which might cause him to lean on his regulars despite the short turnaround and busy itinerary.
“There’s a history now with us and their team, partly because of the friendships and relationships that are there on the field and with the staffs, but also there’s a playoff history now, too,” Curtin said. “So I think that the rivalry is a good, strong, healthy one.
“We know that they’re going to give us a really tough task in their building, and we know that we have to be up for that.”
–Field Level Media
