Two in-form teams will lock horns on Sunday hoping to pick up where they left off as FC Cincinnati host DC United at the TQL Stadium.
The hosts are seeking to make it four games unbeaten across all competitions, while the visitors are targeting their fifth win on the bounce.
Match preview
Last weekend's heavyweight bout between the New England Revolution and FC Cincinnati certainly lived up to the hype, as the top two teams in the Eastern Conference went toe-to-toe in what felt like an early season playoff match that finished 1-1 at the Gillette Stadium.
A draw is not the worst result for Pat Noonan's side, as a point on the road in a hostile environment keeps the Orange and Blue on pace with the Revolution and three points clear of third-placed Atlanta United following their 3-1 loss to Nashville SC at Geodis Park.
Now, their attention turns to taking on DC United at the TQL Stadium, where Cincinnati are unbeaten so far this campaign. The Orange and Blue have won all five matches in front of their fans and are just one of three teams yet to drop points at home along with the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles FC heading into this weekend.
Cincinnati's most recent home outing was a nervy 1-0 victory over Louisville City in the third round of the US Open Cup. Noonan's men left it late as they took the lead in the 85th minute through Arquimides Ordonez to settle a cagey and nervy affair at the TQL Stadium.
Noonan will be eager to see his side put in a much better performance in order to keep their unbeaten home run intact.
Meanwhile, DC United cruised to a 3-0 victory over Charlotte FC last weekend, courtesy of goals from Taxiarchis Fountas, Christian Benteke and Jacob Greene.
That victory lifted the Black-and-Red to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, after amassing 14 points from 10 games.
Prior to that victory, Wayne Rooney's side had enjoyed a good spell of form, recording back-to-back victories against Montreal and Orlando City, before edging past Richmond Kickers in the third round of the US Open Cup.
The Black-and-Red lost their first two games on the road this season but have since gone from strength-to-strength, winning two and drawing one of their next three away outings to give them the fifth-best away record in the league.
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Team News
Kenneth Vermeer has not featured for Cincinnati since July due to a torn muscle, which is set to keep the goalkeeper out of Sunday's game as well.
Yerson Mosquera will look to retain his place in the starting XI after being named in the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 10 – the second time the Colombian has been included in the weekly best XI.
As for the visitors, Christian Benteke took full of advantage of being named back in the starting lineup against Charlotte by getting himself on the scoresheet, so the Belgian will look to lead the line again on Sunday.
Brendan Hines-Ike remains out of contention for Rooney's side due to a knee injury, while Martin Rodriguez faces a long spell on the sidelines with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Hagglund, Miazga, Mosquera; Gaddis, Nwobodo, Moreno, Barreal; Acosta, Santos, Vazquez
DC United possible starting lineup:
Miller; Palsson, Williams, Pines; Najar, Klich, Canouse, O'Brien, Santos; Ku-DiPietro, Benteke
We say: FC Cincinnati 2-1 DC United
Both teams are in good form, so we expect this to be an entertaining contest.
However, Cincinnati are yet to drop points at home, so we think they will make home advantage count and emerge triumphant.
How to watch
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