The 2021 Major League Soccer season continues this week and on the 10th of July we have a meeting between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew at Nippert Stadium.
Both teams are participating in the Eastern Conference and the hosts begin the weekend in 12th place on 11 points while the visitors are in 9th place on 16 points, so both need a win to move up the table.
FC Cincinnati come into the match having picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at Houston Dynamo. FC Cincinnati fell a goal behind after only 3 minutes of the game but responded almost immediately by netting the equaliser in the 5th minute.
Neither team could score the winning goal but FC Cincinnati will be pleased to have taken a point from the match.
FC Cincinnati are currently on a run of 3 games without defeat. Prior to the draw against Houston Dynamo, FC Cincinnati recorded only their second and third victories of the 2021 MLS season.
The first came away against Chicago Fire and the match ended 1-0, the second was a 2-0 win at bottom of the table, Toronto FC.
The most disappointing aspect of the season for FC Cincinnati has been their home form and they have lost each of their last 8 home league games. FC Cincinnati have conceded 2 or more goals in 4 of their last 5 at Nippert Stadium.
Columbus Crew travel to Cincinnati on the back of a 2-2 draw at home against New England Revolution. New England were 2-0 up after 30 minutes of the match and Columbus Crew did well to come back into the game, scoring 6 minutes before half time and finding the equaliser in the 69th minute.
That result means Columbus Crew have failed to win their last 3 games. Prior to the draw at home against New England Revolution, Columbus Crew were held to a 0-0 draw at Austin FC and were defeated 1-0 at Philadelphia Union, the goal coming in the 24th minute.
Therefore, you must go back to the home fixture against Chicago Fire on the 20th of June to find the last time Columbus Crew won a game.
Trends show Columbus Crew are on a poor run of just 1 win in 15 away matches but they are undefeated in 5 of their 6 most recent MLS games.
Looking ahead to the team news and FC Cincinnati will be without Allan Cruz and Ronald Matarrita, who are playing in the Gold Cup for Costa Rica. Zico Bailey and Maikel van der Werff will miss out due to injury.
Columbus Crew will be without Liam Fraser, Kevin Molino, Gyasi Zardes, Derrick Etienne, and Eloy Room who are on international duty. Artur and Bradley Wright-Phillips are injured plus Josh Williams is a doubt.
Both teams are missing players for this game and FC Cincinnati will be hoping to take advantage of the fact Columbus Crew have 5 men on international duty.
However, they have been extremely poor at home this season and Columbus Crew could come away with maximum points, scoring 2 or more goals in the process.