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[monks data]
Real Salt Lake
Major League Soccer
Sep 18, 2022 at 2.30am UK
Rio Tinto Stadium
FC Cincinnati

Salt Lake
1 - 2
Cincinnati

Chang (35')
Savarino (61')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Brenner (44', 76')
Hagglund (33')

Preview: Real Salt Lake vs. FC Cincinnati - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Major League Soccer clash between Real Salt Lake and FC Cincinnati, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two sides looking to clinch MLS playoff places will face off on Saturday when Real Salt Lake welcome FC Cincinnati to American First Field.

The hosts currently sit in seventh position in the Western Conference, while sixth place in the Eastern Conference is occupied by Cincinnati.


Match preview

Real Salt Lake keeper Zac MacMath on September 10, 2022© Reuters

Real Salt Lake are just three points clear of eighth-placed LA Galaxy, who boast one game in hand over Pablo Mastroeni's side.

Not only will Mastroeni be concerned by the chasing pack, but he is also challenged with turning around Real Salt Lake's poor run of form.

They have only won on three occasions in their last 15 matches, while they are also winless in their previous three games.

A 3-0 away defeat to Austin in midweek would have done nothing to lift the mood around the squad ahead of their three final regular-season fixtures.

Saturday's visitors can at least take confidence from the fact that in the only previous meeting between the two sides in 2019, they clinched a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Brenner celebrates scoring for FC Cincinnati on September 10, 2022© Reuters

Meanwhile, Cincinnati are also only three points clear of Inter Miami, who sit just outside the Eastern Conference playoffs.

In contrast to their hosts, the Orange and Blue are enjoying a nine-game unbeaten run, although only three of those matches have yielded a victory.

Despite finding it tough to convert draws into victories, Saturday's visitors do have momentum in their favour after thrashing San Jose Earthquakes 6-0 last weekend.

Brenner starred with a hat-trick, while Alvaro Barreal, Luciano Acosta and Yuya Kubo all grabbed a goal apiece to wrap up a comprehensive win.

While Cincinnati have won consecutive home games, they enter Saturday's contest off the back of a seven-game winless away run, although their last three away trips have all ended level.

Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L

FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • W


Team News

Andrew Brody in action for Real Salt Lake on August 6, 2022© Reuters

Real Salt Lake are unable to call upon the services of Bobby Wood, Damir Kreilach and Zack Farnsworth, who are all sidelined with injury issues.

After playing in midweek, Mastroeni could decide to rotate his side for Saturday's contest, which could result in starting places for Justin Meram, Jasper Loffelsend, and Maikel Chang.

Sergio Cordova will also return to the lineup, with the forward looking to add to the eight goals he has scored this season.

As for the visitors, they are without Kenneth Vermeer due to an abdominal injury, while Beckham Sunderland is a doubt for Saturday's contest.

Geoff Cameron will serve a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation, which could mean Ian Murphy is given a place in the starting lineup.

Despite coming off the bench to score last weekend, Kubo will have to settle for a place amongst the substitutes, with Pat Noonan set to name an unchanged side.

Real Salt Lake possible starting lineup:
MacMath; Herrare, Silva, Glad, Brody; Chang, Ruiz, Loffelsend, Meram; Savarino, Cordova

FC Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Powell, Hagglund, Murphy, Miazga, Barreal; Nwobodo, Moreno, Acosta; Vazquez, Brenner


SM words green background

We say: Real Salt Lake 1-1 FC Cincinnati

Real Salt Lake have drawn two of their previous three home games, while Cincinnati's last away games have ended all square and as a result, we think the two sides will play out a draw on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 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.Under 3.5:curl


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Game History

How you voted: Salt Lake vs Cincinnati

Real Salt Lake
33.3%
Draw
33.3%
FC Cincinnati
33.3%
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Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami1273232181424
2FC CincinnatiCincinnati11632139421
3Toronto116141414019
4New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls114521616017
5Columbus Crew10361129315
6Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia103521916314
7DC United113531617-114
8Charlotte FCCharlotte FC114251213-114
9New York City FCNY City114251112-114
10Atlanta UnitedAtlanta103341411312
11CF MontrealMontreal103341320-712
12Nashville SCNashville102531418-411
13Chicago Fire112451119-810
14Orlando City102351118-79
15New England RevolutionNew England10217718-117

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Salt LakeSalt Lake11632189921
2Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd106221711620
3Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy115422117419
4Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver105321810818
5Colorado RapidsColorado115331815318
6Austin FCAustin114431413116
7Los Angeles FCLos Angeles114341919015
8Houston DynamoHouston10424910-114
9St Louis City102711514113
10Sporting Kansas CityKansas112541819-111
11Seattle SoundersSeattle112451313010
12Portland TimbersPortland112452023-310
13Dallas102261015-58
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes112181726-97


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