FC Cincinnati vs. DC United | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 6
FC Cincinnati vs. D.C. United
Nippert Stadium – Cincinnati
August 21 – 7:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

FC Cincinnati closed out their run at the MLS is Back Tournament in impressive style and Jaap Stam's side will look to build on that momentum when their season resumes against D.C. United August 21 at Nippert Stadium.

Stam's bunch bounced back from a lopsided defeat to Hell is Real Derby foe Columbus to make a Cinderella run to the MLS is Real knockout round where they were eliminated on penalty kicks to eventual champion Portland in the Round of 16. D.C. United earned a reputation as a come-from-behind team, rallying to points in their first two game before a disappointing defeat to the Montreal Impact ended their time in Orlando.

There's just one all-time meeting between the teams in the Queen City and it was a one-sided encounter, with D.C. United scoring three unanswered second-half goals to cruise to a 4-1 victory last July.

FC Cincinnati

The formula for FC Cincinnati's turnaround success in Orlando was a shift to a bunker-and-counter style which has a history of working for teams in a tournament setting. That strategy earned FC Cincy results that lifted them to 8th place at 2W-3L-0D. Will those tactics continue with the resumption of the regular season? We find out beginning with August 21.

With the Secondary Transfer Window open, the roster build for the second-year squad is likely not over. There's been a bevy of moves in the midfield, with Kekuta Manneh traded to the New England Revolution for an international roster slot and Fatai Alashe sent to the Columbus Crew for a second-round pick in the 2021 SuperDraft. FC Cincy then landed free-agent midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo by using Targeted Allocation Money, the club announced Thursday.

They have also been at the forefront of the rumor mill with reported interest in out-of-contract Mario Gotze, the 28-year-old World Cup winner who has starred for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Spencer Richey (GK) - concussion
- QUESTIONABLE: Jimmy McLaughlin (M) - ankle injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

D.C. United

The Black-and-Red were a tough team to break down and played a gritty brand of soccer that embodies their head coach. But as good as they were defensively, D.C. United were limited offensively, which ultimately led to their ouster from Orlando after the group stage. Part of that bite came from Felipe, who is suspended for this match after a challenge against Victor Wanyama deemed to be serious foul play.

D.C. United have just one win in their first five regular season contests, which have them in 10th in the East, but just one point below the playoff line.

In a depth trade, United sent Emmanuel Boateng to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for defender Axel Sjoberg. The club are rumored also to be interested in former Manchester United fullback Antonio Valencia, whose contract with Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito expired.