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Major League Soccer | Gameweek 4
May 2, 2021 at 12.30am UK
Exploria Stadium
FC

Orlando City
3 - 0
Cincinnati

Akindele (1'), Nani (19'), Urso (80')
Mendez (26'), Mueller (62')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Stanko (78')

Preview: Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Orlando City vs. FC Cincinnati - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Orlando City and FC Cincinnati, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Orlando City take on FC Cincinnati in the Eastern Conference of MLS on Saturday, with both sides looking to record their first victories this season.

Orlando are unbeaten after two draws, while Cincinnati have lost one and drawn one so far.


Match preview

Having finished fourth in last season's Eastern Conference table and subsequently qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the club's history, Orlando City will be looking to build on that achievement this season.

Indeed, last season was by far the club's most successful campaign since being founded in 2013, with former Colombia international Oscar Pareja demonstrably instilling more professionalism within the ranks.

However, the 52-year-old will be hoping that his side can get off the mark in terms of wins this season after two draws against Atlanta United and Sporting Kansas City.

Former Manchester United winger Nani - who is currently Orlando's club captain - earned a share of the spoils with a late equaliser last time out, taking his tally to 22 goals for the club.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, are an even newer club than their forthcoming opponents, having only been founded in 2018.

They have certainly found life tough in the MLS so far, finishing 12th in their debut campaign and rock-bottom last season.

Former Man Utd defender Jaap Stam has struggled to provide any major improvement since being appointed as head coach last May, having been thrashed 5-0 at New York City FC last time out after squandering a two-goal lead to Nashville SC on the opening day.

Stam will be keen to avoid becoming the Eastern Conference's whipping boys, with NYCFC's tally of 10 shots on target across the 90 minutes an alarming statistic ahead of Saturday's match against an Orlando side packed with attacking talent.

Orlando City Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • D

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • L



Team News

Former AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato missed Orlando's 1-1 draw in Kansas City last time out, and will likely be absent once again due to a leg injury.

Robin Jansson, Oriol Rosell and David Loera are all suffering with leg injuries, too, so are unlikely to be considered by Pareja for selection.

Tesho Akindele is likely to lead the line, with Nani hoping to profit from any space in behind.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, are likely to travel to Orlando without Maikel van der Werff, Franko Kovacevic and Isaac Atanga due to injury.

Jurgen Locadia, who is on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, could make his first league start of the season having only been used from the bench by Stam in the opening two matches, with other changes possible after the drubbing suffered in New York.

Gustavo Vallecilla remains unavailable due to visa issues.

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Teixeira, Carlos, Schlegel, Smith; Urso, Mendez, Perea; Michel, Akindele, Nani

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Cropper; Gyau, Bailey, Pettersson, Matarrita; Barreal, Mokotjo, Kubo, Locadia; Cruz; Brenner


We say: Orlando City 2-1 FC Cincinnati

We expect the hosts to earn their first win of the season against a Cincinnati side which looked desperately out of sorts in their 5-0 defeat to NYCFC.

However, Stam's side will almost certainly show more fight and spirit than in that loss, with Orlando likely to be made to work much harder for a win.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data




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Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
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