New York Red Bulls go in search of a first victory in five outings when they welcome FC Cincinnati to the Red Bull Arena on Saturday.
The visitors, on the other hand, make the journey aiming to avoid a third Major League Soccer defeat and get themselves back on track.
Match preview
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New York Red Bulls had to make with a share of the spoils for the fourth game running in a 2-2 draw against CF Montreal on Thursday.
Sandro Schwarz‘s men led 1-0 and 2-1 through Wikelman Carmona‘s strike and a Mathieu Choiniere own goal but were pegged back on both occasions by Josef Martinez.
Consequently, the Bulls remain fourth in the Eastern Conference of the MLS table, a whopping 12 points shy of division leaders Inter Miami.
Awaiting them next is the challenge of an opposing outfit with little to choose between the teams over the last four meetings which have been split evenly into two wins apiece.
Still yet lose a game on home turf since the turn of the year, Saturday’s hosts have proven to be a tough nut to crack in front of their fans lately.
Cincinnati just about came up short in their meeting against Chicago Fire which ended in a 1-0 defeat at the TQL Stadium on Thursday.
Despite being in the ascendancy for large spells of the contest, Pat Noonan‘s men were unable to find the breakthrough and ended up a conceding a 69th-minute strike to Brian Gutierrez.
With 48 points amassed from 24 matches this term, the Knifey Lions sit second in the Eastern Conference standings, 10 points clear of their next opponents ahead of the encounter in New Jersey.
Having won seven straight games on enemy territory leading up to this one, Saturday’s visitors have turned a corner away from home and will fancy their chances of securing another victory on enemy territory.
New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer form:
FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:
Team News
New York Red Bulls duo Roald Mitchell and Serge Ngoma are yet to fully recuperate from knee injuries and are unavailable for selection in this one.
The hosts will also be without the services of Peter Stroud and Emil Forsberg through ankle and foot injuries respectively, while Sean Nealis misses out through suspension.
Alex Kann remains without an appearance for Cincinnati since late April due to a hip problem which will see him sit out Saturday’s clash.
Midfielder Malik Pinto is set to miss a ninth straight game for the visitors due to an ankle problem he sustained on duty with the reserve team.
Luciano Acosta‘s availability this weekend is still hanging in the balance after the Argentine missed the defeat to Chicago Fire due to a foot injury.
Alvas Powell and DeAndre Yedlin are both suspended for this one in the aftermath of a frenetic finale to the aforementioned game.
New York Red Bulls possible starting lineup:
Coronel; Nealis, Reyes, Eile, Duncan; Harper, Donkor, Edelman, Carmona; Morgan, Vanzeir
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Halsey, Keller, Murphy; Orellano, Bucha, Nwobodo, Asad; Baird, Valenzuela, Kubo
We say: New York Red Bulls 2-1 FC Cincinnati
The last four meetings between New York Red Bulls and Cincinnati have produced a combined 11 goals, and we can see another entertaining affair unfolding here. That said, we are backing the home side to get the job done, albeit by only a narrow margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
