FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 13
FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union
Nippert Stadium – Cincinnati
September 23 – 7:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US

LOCAL TV: Star64, PHL17

After snapping a six-match winless run with a dramatic victory over the New York Red Bulls, FC Cincinnati are hoping to carry momentum over to a midweek clash against the surging Philadelphia Union at Nippert Stadium Wednesday.

FC Cincinnati (3W-6L-3D) were rewarded for its chances created when Haris Medunjanin scored a late Olimpico in a 1-0 win over the Red Bulls, while 24 hours later at Red Bull Arena, the Union (7W-2L-3D) cruised to a 4-1 win over the 10-man Montreal Impact for their third straight win.

Dos-a-cero? That's the only scoreline in the short history between these teams with the Union winning both matchups.

FC Cincinnati

For the first time since a 2-0 victory at the MLS is Back Tournament, FC Cincinnati made it a second consecutive victory over the Red Bulls thanks to a stunning Medunjanin Olimpico five minutes from time.

“When it's five minutes to go, I think that’s the best corner to take — in front of everybody, in front of the goalkeeper, to make it very difficult, to make him make a choice,” Medunjanin said. “But you need to have also a little bit luck over there. I was just trying to shoot as hard as I could to my teammates there, but the ball took a little bit of a strange touch and went straight in."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Jimmy McLaughlin (M) - ankle injury
- OUT: Saad Abdul-Salaam (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Przemyslaw Tyton (GK) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Philadelphia Union

The Union kept pace with first-place Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference table with a decisive 4-1 win over the Montreal Impact Sunday night at Red Bull Arena. Kacper Przybylko struck for a brace, Alejandro Bedoya and Anthony Fontana added a goal apiece and Mark McKenzie had a pair of assists as the Union won for the fifth time in their last six games.

"Mark has emerged as one of the best center backs in this league," said Union coach Jim Curtin, a solid center back in his day. "Mark has really stepped it up and I’m really happy to watch him grow and get better each and every game, but two balls to set us up against a team that was playing a pretty aggressive high line."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Jack Elliott (D) - undisclosed injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Kai Wagner (D) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Alejandro Bedoya (M), Jamiro Monteiro (M)
International duty: None