FC Cincinnati (3-0-2) travel to face off against Charlotte (2-2-1) on Saturday, March 30th. This match will be played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. Both club’s come into this one having won their previous match. The match starts at 7:30 PM ET.

FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte

FC Cincinnati Is Coming Off A Win

In their last match, FC Cincinnati hosted New York City FC and picked up a 1-0 win. The money line payout for Cincinnati was -127, and the single goal fell short of the over/under goal line of 5.5 goals.

On offense, FC Cincinnati was extremely efficient with their six shots on goal, scoring the only time they found the back of the net. Luciano Acosta scored on two of his three total shots, with Corey Baird picking up the assist on Acosta’s score.

Defensively, Cincinnati allowed just four shots on goal, and Roman Celentano picked up a clean sheet. Overall, New York City FC took eight shots, and the Cincinnati defense finished with three blocked shots and 14 interceptions.

In their first season in the MLS, FC Cincinnati has gotten off to a strong start, going 3-0-2 and sitting in first place in the Eastern Conference. They have won two straight matches and have yet to lose on the road, going 2-0-0. Overall, they have been favored in three of their five matches, going 1-0-2 in those contests. Their next match will be at home on April 6th vs. the New York Red Bulls.

Charlotte Is Coming Off A Win

In their last match, Charlotte hosted the Columbus Crew and picked up a 2-0 win. Charlotte was playing at home, but they were still the heavy underdog at +215. The two combined goals fell short of the over/under goal line of 2.5 goals.

Charlotte’s offensive attack took a total of 11 shots, with five being on target. Leading the way for the Charlotte offense was Patrick Agyemang, who scored on his three shots on goal. Agyemang took five total shots. Ashley Westwood was the only other Charlotte player to find the net.

On the defensive end, Charlotte’s goalkeeper didn’t have to make a single save to get the clean sheet. Overall, the Columbus Crew took just one shot on goal. Charlotte’s defenders intercepted eight passes and blocked one shot.

Through five matches, Charlotte has a record of 2-2-1, which has them in 7th place in the Eastern Conference. They have yet to win on the road, going 0-2-1, but are 2-0-0 at home. Their only match as the favorite came in their last match, a 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew. After this match vs. FC Cincinnati, they will head on the road to take on the New England Revolution on April 6th. Over their last five matches, they have gone 2-2-1.

FC Cincinnati Offense Breakdown

FC Cincinnati’s offense has been average this season, scoring 1.0 goal per match, which is 24th in the MLS. Luciano Acosta has been the team’s top scorer, finding the back of the net twice this season, which is 34th in the league. He also leads the team in shots on goal, which is 27th in the MLS. Acosta is also the team’s leader in assists, which is 17th in the league.

Charlotte Offense Breakdown

Charlotte’s offense has been average this season, scoring 1.0 goal per match, which is 22nd in the league. Ashley Westwood is the team’s top scorer, finding the back of the net once this season, which is 43rd in MLS. Patrick Agyemang has also scored once and leads the team in shots on goal. Brecht Dejaegere has one assist, which is 28th in the league.

FC Cincinnati Defense Breakdown

FC Cincinnati’s defense has been one of the best in MLS this season, allowing just 0.4 goals per match, which is the 2nd best mark in the league. They have also been strong in terms of clean sheets, as Roman Celentano leads MLS with three. Over their last five matches, they have given up just two goals, and they have not allowed a goal in three of their last five matches. They have also been strong against some of the weaker offenses in the league, including New York City FC (29th) and New England Revolution (26th).

Charlotte Defense Breakdown

Charlotte’s defense has been solid this season, allowing just 0.8 goals per match, which is 5th in the MLS. They have also been strong at home, as they have not allowed a goal in their last two matches. Overall, they have two clean sheets on the season. Keeper Kristijan Kahlina is 5th in the MLS with two clean sheets, and he is 28th in saves. The defense has not allowed more than two goals in any match this season. They will be facing an FC Cincinnati offense that is 24th in goals scored.

FC Cincinnati vs Charlotte Prediction

Even though both of these clubs are near the bottom of the league in terms of scoring, we are looking for a 1-1 draw between FC Cincinnati and Charlotte. This season, both clubs have been strong on the defensive end, with Cincinnati 2nd in goals allowed and Charlotte 5th. Our projections have this one with both clubs getting three shots on goal, with Aaron Boupendza (FC Cincinnati) being the top projected goal scorer for the match. As for Charlotte, look for Kerwin Vargas to find the back of the net.

All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!

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