Preview: FC Cincinnati hosts Lucho-less D.C. United in midweek clash
After ending up on the wrong side of a 7-1 shellacking June 29 in St. Paul, FC Cincinnati enters Thursday’s home fixture with D.C. United schlepping a two-match winning streak. D.C. sits third in the Eastern Conference standings, but will be without a notable playmaker Thursday evening. Kickoff at Nippert Stadium is set for 8 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN.
INJURIES/ABSENCES
D.C. United
For the visitors, Luciano Acosta will miss the contest after losing his suspension appeal. Lucho sat a game already from a red card for which MLS handed down a two-match suspension, and now will have to fully serve it out. Chris Odoi-Atsem (hip) is the only United player with a question mark over his status. Oniel Fisher (knee) remains out.
FC Cincinnati
FC Cincy will be without Roland Lamah (hamstring), Fatai Alashe (hamstring) and Greg Garza (calf). Promising youngster Frankie Amaya, the top pick in the 2019 SuperDraft, is listed as questionable and was spotted at training Wednesday. Jimmy McLaughlin (knee) is still out as well.
FORM
D.C. United (8-5-8)
Third in Eastern Conference, seventh in Supporters’ Shield
Last five: draw, win, draw, loss, draw
FC Cincinnati (5-13-2)
12th in Eastern Conference, 24th in Supporters’ Shield
Last five: loss, loss, loss, win, win
KEY PLAYERS
D.C. United – Paul Arriola
Sans the services of Lucho, can a player like Arriola step up and shoulder some of the playmaking load? That’ll be the lingering question for the visitors if they hope to get Wayne Rooney the necessary touches to impact the match. Arriola, the only player to start every USMNT match so far in the Gregg Berhalter era, has plenty of chance-creating ability, but his exceptional two-way play doesn’t often leave him in position to be the prime orchestrator of an attack. Perhaps he’ll be asked to defend less Thursday night?
FC Cincinnati – Emmanuel Ledesma
It’s been a rough-and-tumble season for Ledesma; he’s mixed in a few solid outings with some not-so brilliant ones. He finally flashed the big-play prowess that earned him the 2018 USL MVP award in FC Cincy’s recent 3-2 win over Houston, dishing out two assists. As a winger, Ledesma is the complete antithesis of Arriola in that he offers little to nothing behind the ball, and all his qualities are going forward. There’s generally space to be exploited behind Ledesma on the flank where he’s stationed, so Arriola might look to fill Lucho’s shoes by doing just that.
Prediction: 2-2 draw
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.
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