It will be a contrast in styles when offensively challenged D.C. United take on the high-octane attack of host FC Cincinnati on Saturday.
While D.C. United (5-7-10, 25 points) has scored the second-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference with 28, Cincinnati (8-7-7, 31 points) has tallied the second most in the league with 49.
But somehow, the teams are separated by just six points in the standings. A tiebreaker has D.C. United just below the playoff line, while sixth-place Cincinnati has some margin for error in its pursuit for a fifth straight postseason berth.
During the recently concluded transfer window, FC Cincinnati added a pair of defenders, although neither will be cleared to play. Julian Malatini arrived from Germany’s Werder Bremen, while David Doudera is from Czech powerhouse Slavia Prague.
“Center back was a need. Clearly we’re not doing a good enough job defensively,” Cincinnati general manager Chris Albright said. “The addition of Julian, we’re excited about. We looked at probably over 300 center backs (during) this window.”
FC Cincinnati has surrendered 51 goals, third most in MLS. They absorbed a deflating 4-0 loss last Saturday at Nashville SC.
“We’ve scored a lot of goals but defensively we’ve conceded too many,” Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said. “It’s coming in different ways but it’s still a collective issue.”
The mission for D.C. United will be to contain Cincinnati’s top threats in Evander (13 goals, 11 assists), Kevin Denkey (11 goals, four assists) and Pavel Bucha (five goals, eight assists).
“It’s difficult to play against them,” D.C. United coach Rene Weiler said. “When I watch Cincinnati playing, I see a team. They are defending forward. They are playing all the time together. Very good team, compact, well organized and a strong opponent.”
Despite winning just one of their last 11 matches in MLS play, going 1-3-7 over that span, D.C. United have remained in contention for a playoff berth as they attempt to end their six-year postseason drought, the longest active MLS streak.
D.C. United has scored just two goals in its last four matches. The lack of firepower can be traced in part to an injury to top scorer Tai Baribo (12 goals), who sat out D.C.’s scoreless draw last Saturday against Los Angeles FC with a knee injury.
If Baribo remains sidelined, D.C. will look to Louis Munteanu (six goals) and Jackson Hopkins (two goals) for scoring.
D.C. United is 4-1-3 all-time at Cincinnati. Last year, D.C. United won 2-1 to hand Cincinnati its first home loss of the season in eight matches.
– Field Level Media
