Though they sit atop the Major League Soccer standings, FC Cincinnati are winless in their last two matches and looking to return to form when they visit Charlotte FC on Saturday.
Last Saturday, Cincinnati (13-2-5, 44 points) drew the visiting New England Revolution 2-2. Dominique Badji opened the scoring 11 minutes into the game before the Revolution took a 2-1 lead in the 24th minute, thanks in part to an own goal by Badji.
Badji completed his brace in the 55th minute to rescue the draw for Cincinnati.
“It’s just our play in front of goal,” Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. “I think (that’s) what prevented us from walking away with three points … It’s preventable and you kind of have an idea of how you can eliminate those moments.”
Cincinnati remains without the services of forward Brandon Vazquez, tied for second on the team with four goals, and defender Matt Miazga as both are on international duty with the U.S. men’s national team in the Gold Cup.
Charlotte (6-8-7, 25 points) sits in 10th place after its fourth straight draw, 1-1 at New York City FC Wednesday night. McKinze Gaines opened the scoring with a great goal from outside the box in the 17th minute, but Charlotte was unable to hold the lead until the final whistle and gave up the game-tying goal in the 81st minute.
The four straight draws equal Charlotte’s longest unbeaten streak since entering the league. However, the team has failed to register a win in six straight matches.
Head coach Christian Lattanzio was asked during his Friday press conference whether the team has played its best yet this season.
“No, we have not done it yet,” Lattanzio said. “We need to overcome certain mental obstacles.”
Charlotte will be without forward Enzo Copetti, who is second on the team with four goals, after he sustained an injury and had to be subbed off in the 31st minute Wednesday night. Coupled with the short amount of rest, there will likely be some rotation both up front and in the midfield as Brandt Bronico was on the bench but did not sub in Wednesday night.
–Field Level Media