Los Angeles (14-8-7) travel to face off against FC Cincinnati (17-8-5) on Saturday, September 28th. This match will be played at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. Los Angeles will be looking to bounce back from a loss in their last match, while FC Cincinnati is coming off a draw. The match will get started at 7:30 PM ET.
Los Angeles vs FC Cincinnati
Los Angeles Look To Bounce Back From A Loss
Los Angeles will be looking to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to FC Dallas. This match took place on the road, and going into the match, they were the +190 underdog. The four combined goals fell short of the pre-match over/under line of 3.5 goals.
Eduard Atuesta was the only player for Los Angeles to score, and he took a total of three shots, two of which were on goal. Omar Campos finished with the only assist for Los Angeles, who had four total shots on goal and 15 shots overall.
On the defensive end, Los Angeles allowed a total of 17 shots and three goals. Thomas Hasal finished with four saves, and the LA defense had a total of three blocked shots while intercepting 18 passes.
Through 29 matches, Los Angeles has a record of 14-8-7, putting them in 4th place in the Western Conference. They have been much better at home, going 9-2-4 compared to 5-6-3 on the road. Over their last seven matches, they have just one win, going 1-3-3. Their last win came on July 21st against Seattle Sounders FC. After this match, they will return home to take on St. Louis City SC on October 3rd. In the standings, they are one point behind Los Angeles FC and two points ahead of the Houston Dynamo.
FC Cincinnati Is Coming Off A Draw
FC Cincinnati will be looking to get back in the win column after playing to a 2-2 draw against Nashville SC. This draw came on the road, and the money line payout for a Cincinnati win was +128. The four combined goals surpassed the over/under line of 2.5 goals.
On offense, Cincinnati was led by Luca Orellano and Luciano Acosta, who each scored one time. Orellano was extremely active with his four total shots and one shot on goal. Acosta finished with just one shot, and as a team, Cincinnati took 13 shots.
Defensively, Cincinnati allowed two goals on Nashville’s seven total shots. Roman Celentano finished with zero saves on the two shots on goal he faced. The Cincinnati defense had a total of eight interceptions and three blocked shots.
In their last four matches, FC Cincinnati has gone 2-0-2, including a 2-2 draw vs. Nashville SC on September 22nd. Overall, they are 17-8-5, which has them tied with the Columbus Crew for 2nd in the Eastern Conference. Their 56 points are five behind the Crew and five ahead of Real Salt Lake. On the season, they have been favored in 21 matches, going 11-6-4, while going 6-2-1 as the underdog. After this match vs. Los Angeles, they will head on the road to take on New York City FC on October 2nd.
Los Angeles Offense Breakdown
Denis Bouanga has been the top scorer for Los Angeles this season, finding the back of the net 17 times, which is fourth in MLS. He also leads the team in shots on goal, with 48, which is second in the league. Overall, Los Angeles has been taking fewer shots on goal than their season average in their last eight matches, but they are still first in MLS in shots on goal per match. This season, they have scored an average of 1.8 goals per match, which is eighth in the league.
FC Cincinnati Offense Breakdown
FC Cincinnati’s attack has been solid this season, as they are averaging 1.7 goals per match, which is ninth in MLS. Luciano Acosta is their top scorer, as he has found the back of the net 12 times, which is 21st in the league. Luca Orellano has been their leader in shots on goal, as he has 34, which is 10th in MLS. He has scored nine goals, which is 39th in the league. This season, they have taken fewer shots on goal than their season average in three straight matches. Their passing percentage of 84.1 is 14th in the league.
Los Angeles Defense Breakdown
Los Angeles has the 7th best defense in the MLS this season, allowing 1.4 goals per match. However, they have struggled as of late, giving up 3 goals to FC Dallas and 4 goals to the Los Angeles Galaxy. Overall, they have 10 clean sheets this season, which is the best in the league. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is 1st in the MLS with 10 clean sheets. However, he is just 15th in saves. Over their last 7 matches, they have given up an average of 1.6 goals per match.
FC Cincinnati Defense Breakdown
FC Cincinnati’s defense has been up and down as of late, as they have given up two goals in two of their last three matches. However, they did have a clean sheet against the Columbus Crew on September 14th. Overall, they are 5th in goals allowed this season, giving up 1.3 goals per match. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano is 9th in MLS with seven clean sheets, and he is 18th in saves with 74. They will be facing an LA offense that is 8th in the league in goals scored.
Los Angeles vs FC Cincinnati Prediction
Coming in as the better defensive club, we have this match between Los Angeles and FC Cincinnati in the MLS ending in a 2-1 upset in favor of FC Cincinnati. The payout for a Cincinnati win is at +102. Our projections are giving Luciano Acosta the best chance to score for FC Cincinnati, while Olivier Giroud is the top projected goal scorer for Los Angeles. Look for Cincinnati to put up five shots on goal, which is one of the top units in the MLS in terms of shots on goal this season.
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Last updated:September 24, 2024 FC Cincinnati, Los Angeles FC