It’s the final week of the MLS regular season and D.C. United are bringing things to a close at Audi Field. On Sunday afternoon, the Black-and-Red will host FC Cincinnati for their final match before the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs. Currently, D.C. United are slated to be hosting their first round playoff match as the No. 4 seed -- but with the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC close behind them, they will be looking for three more points to solidify their advantage. So, here is everything you need to know about D.C. United’s final regular season opponent.
Recent Matches
2019 was FC Cincinnati’s inaugural MLS season and it has been a rough road. Cincinnati has accumulated just 23 points in 33 games, with an overall record of 6-22-5. They are 1-2-2 in their last five matches, with their most recent win coming in mid-September against the Montreal Impact. Their most recent game was a 1-1 draw against Orlando CIty this weekend, with the team’s lone goal coming from Allan Cruz just before the end of the first half.
Players to Watch
FC Cincinnati has scored just 31 goals in 33 games this season; that’s the lowest tally in MLS. Their leading goal-scorer is Allan Cruz, who scored in their draw against Orlando City last weekend. Cruz has seven goals and one assist this season, including two goals in his last five games. The second-highest goal-scorer is Emmanuel Ledesama, who has six goals and five assists this year. But he has scored just once in the team’s last five games, scoring the lone goal in Cincinnati’s 5-1 loss to Toronto FC in early September.
Cincinnati started the season with goalkeeper Spencer Richey, but he was replaced at the end of July by Przemyslaw Tyton. Tyton has two shutouts and just one win in his fourteen starts with FC Cincinnati. In the last five games, he has allowed eight goals.
Head-to-Head
The Black-and-Red have faced FC Cincinnati just once before in MLS. Earlier this season, D.C. United traveled to Nippert Stadium in mid-July and defeated FC Cincinnati with a scoreline of 4-1. Lucas RodrÃguez opened up scoring at the end of the first half and finished his night with a brace. FC Cincinnati converted a penalty kick early in the second half, but with another goal from RodrÃguez, a goal from Wayne Rooney, and a goal from Paul Arriola over the next 20 minutes, D.C. United won the game comfortably. This Sunday afternoon matchup will be Cincinnati’s first time playing at Audi Field.
