Major League Soccer · Matchday 31 DC United fight to climb out of the bottom three against Cincinnati
DC United have won once in their last five Major League Soccer matches and sit third from bottom. Cincinnati arrive with a six-point cushion and a habit of scoring late.
📍 Audi Field
All Matchday 31 matchesFull head-to-head
Confirmed lineups
DC United · 4-4-2
- 1S. JohnsonG
- 5S. HeftiD
- 3L. BartlettD
- 15K. RowlesD
- 6K. KurokawaD
- 2K. NonoM
- 23B. ServaniaM
- 21A. DozzellM
- 7PeglowM
- 25J. HopkinsF
- 9T. BariboF
Coach: R. Weiler
FC Cincinnati · 3-5-2
- 18R. CelentanoG
- 24K. SmithD
- 4N. HagglundD
- 15T. HadebeD
- 23D. DouděraM
- 20P. BuchaM
- 10EvanderM
- 5O. NwobodoM
- 29Bryan Josías Ramírez LeónM
- 16T. BarlowF
- 9K. DenkeyF
Coach: Pat Noonan
Match facts
Recent form
Last 5 league games, latest on the right
Goals per game
| · | Scored | Conceded |
|---|---|---|
| DC United | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| FC Cincinnati | 2.1 | 2.4 |
PreviaXI model
- Predicted score
- 2-1
- Expected goals (model)
- 1.66 – 1.59
- Double chance
- 12 · 76%1X 63% · X2 61%
- Over 2.5 goals
- 63%
- Both teams score
- 65%
- Expected corners
- 10.55.7 – 4.8 · Over 9.5: 59%
- Expected cards
- 4.12.0 – 2.1 · Over 3.5: 59%
Statistical model based on expected goals (xG), results and match statistics from the last two seasons. For information only. How our model works →
Why the model sees a close match
- Power ratings: DC United -0.33 goals per game (27th of 30 in Major League Soccer), FC Cincinnati -0.05 (16th).
- DC United's attack (1.32 goals per game) meets FC Cincinnati's defence (1.73 conceded per game).
- FC Cincinnati's attack (1.68) meets DC United's defence (1.65).
- Home advantage in this competition: home sides score about 25% more goals.
- Put together, the model expects 1.66 – 1.59 goals: DC United 39%, draw 24%, FC Cincinnati 37%.
Absences
DC United
- OutS. Johnson · Leg Injury
- OutH. Kijima · Leg Injury
- OutL. Munteanu · Leg Injury
- OutG. Segal · Leg Injury
FC Cincinnati
- OutE. Echenique · Leg Injury
- OutT. Malacia · Ankle Injury
- OutJ. Malatini · Thigh Injury
- OutM. Robinson · Leg Injury
- DoubtfulJ. Martinez · Knee Injury
Injury and suspension list from our data provider, updated every 6 hours. It can change before kick-off.
Chance to score
DC United
- T. Baribo16 goals in 24 games54%
- K. Nono3 goals in 12 games23%
- L. Bartlett4 goals in 28 games16%
Model estimate: each player’s season goals per minute compared with his team’s, applied to the model’s expected goals for this match and his usual minutes. Players listed as out are left out.
Trends
- 7 of DC United’s last 8 matches had over 2.5 goals.
- 7 of FC Cincinnati’s last 8 matches had over 2.5 goals.
- Both teams scored in 6 of DC United’s last 8 matches.
- Both teams scored in 6 of FC Cincinnati’s last 8 matches.
Season stats
| · | DC United | FC Cincinnati | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| · | All | Home | All | Away |
| Won-drawn-lost | 7-12-11 | 5-5-5 | 10-9-11 | 2-6-7 |
| Goals scored per game | 1.27 | 1.33 | 2.07 | 1.60 |
| Goals conceded per game | 1.77 | 1.73 | 2.37 | 2.73 |
| xG per game | 1.38 | 1.48 | 1.83 | 1.59 |
| xG against per game | 1.64 | 1.77 | 1.73 | 2.01 |
| Scored in | 70% | 73% | 83% | 80% |
| Clean sheets | 20% | 20% | 7% | 0% |
| Failed to score | 30% | 27% | 17% | 20% |
| Both teams scored | 63% | 67% | 77% | 80% |
| Over 1.5 goals | 77% | 80% | 93% | 93% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 63% | 73% | 73% | 80% |
| Over 3.5 goals | 37% | 33% | 63% | 73% |
| Shots per game | 11.9 | 13.6 | 13.3 | 11.9 |
| Shots on target per game | 4.2 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.4 |
| Shots on target | 35% | 39% | 42% | 45% |
| Possession | 40% | 43% | 48% | 47% |
| Passes per game | 321.6 | 340.9 | 446.9 | 455.8 |
| Pass accuracy | 72% | 75% | 84% | 83% |
| Corners per game | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 4.5 |
| Corners against per game | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Cards per game | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.4 |
| Fouls per game | 14.4 | 15.9 | 12.4 | 10.9 |
League matches this season (Major League Soccer). Per-game averages; % = share of matches.
When goals come
DC United
- 0-153 / 4
- 16-307 / 8
- 31-454 / 10
- 46-608 / 9
- 61-754 / 11
- 76-90+11 / 12
Usual formation: 4-4-2
FC Cincinnati
- 0-157 / 4
- 16-306 / 14
- 31-4513 / 14
- 46-6010 / 17
- 61-757 / 7
- 76-90+22 / 13
Usual formation: 3-5-2
Goals scored (green) and conceded (orange) by 15-minute period, league matches this season.
Major League Soccer table
| # | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nashville SC | 31 | +43 | 70 |
| 2 |  Inter Miami | 30 | +22 | 55 |
| 3 |  New England Revolution | 30 | +8 | 52 |
| 4 |  Chicago Fire | 30 | +8 | 48 |
| 5 |  Charlotte | 30 | +8 | 47 |
| 6 |  Philadelphia Union | 30 | +13 | 46 |
| 7 |  Orlando City SC | 30 | -12 | 41 |
| 8 |  FC Cincinnati | 30 | -9 | 39 |
| 9 |  Columbus Crew | 31 | +1 | 38 |
| 10 |  New York Red Bulls | 30 | -17 | 36 |
| 11 |  Toronto FC | 31 | -11 | 36 |
| 12 |  New York City FC | 30 | +2 | 34 |
| 13 |  DC United | 30 | -15 | 33 |
| 14 |  Atlanta United FC | 30 | -14 | 30 |
| 15 |  CF Montreal | 31 | -26 | 25 |
Next matches
DC United
- Thu 29 OctToronto FC – DC UnitedMajor League Soccer
- Sat 31 OctColumbus Crew – DC UnitedMajor League Soccer
- Sun 8 NovDC United – New York City FCMajor League Soccer
FC Cincinnati
- Thu 29 OctInter Miami – FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
- Sat 31 OctFC Cincinnati – Philadelphia UnionMajor League Soccer
- Sun 8 NovFC Cincinnati – Nashville SCMajor League Soccer
Head-to-head: last 10 meetings
DC United 4 wins · 1 draws · FC Cincinnati 5 wins
- 21/10/2026FC Cincinnati2-1DC UnitedMajor League Soccer
- 31/05/2025FC Cincinnati1-2DC UnitedMajor League Soccer
- 12/04/2025DC United0-1FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
- 03/07/2024DC United2-3FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
- 10/03/2024FC Cincinnati0-0DC UnitedMajor League Soccer
- 24/06/2023DC United3-0FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
- 06/05/2023FC Cincinnati2-1DC UnitedMajor League Soccer
- 09/10/2022DC United2-5FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
- 05/03/2022FC Cincinnati0-1DC UnitedMajor League Soccer
- 25/09/2021DC United4-2FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer
DC United have won just once in their last five Major League Soccer matches, scoring seven times and conceding 14. That is the form of a side in trouble, and it puts them under pressure at Audi Field when they host FC Cincinnati.
Every point counts near the foot of the table
DC sit 13th of 15 in the Eastern Conference with 33 points from 30 games and a goal difference of -15. Cincinnati are eighth on 39 points, six clear of them. With the season in its final stretch, DC’s immediate target is to pull away from the bottom three, and a home win would be a significant step.
A season of draws and conceded goals
DC’s problem has been consistency. They have won seven games, drawn 12 and lost 11, and they have conceded 53 goals, a haul that includes 11 in the 61-75 minute window and 11 more between the 76th and 90th minutes. Their home record reflects the struggle: five wins, five draws and five defeats from 15 matches.
Cincinnati have been far more potent at home, winning eight of their 15 games there. They have scored 62 times this season, and 22 of those goals have arrived in the final 15 minutes of regulation time. That late-goal habit is the kind of thing DC will need to be wary of.
Cincinnati’s edge in recent meetings
The rivalry has tilted toward Cincinnati. In the last five meetings they have won three, DC have won one and one game ended goalless. The most recent clash, on 21 October, finished 2-1 to Cincinnati. DC’s only victory in that run was a 2-1 win at Cincinnati in May 2025.
Injury lists on both sides
DC will be without S. Johnson, H. Kijima, L. Munteanu and G. Segal, all with leg injuries. Cincinnati also have four players missing: E. Echenique (leg), J. Malatini (thigh), J. Martinez (knee) and M. Robinson.
Our prediction
PreviaXI’s model narrowly favours DC United, and the game looks open enough for both sides to find the net. DC have the slight edge in chance creation at home, and they will need to stay disciplined in the final minutes, where Cincinnati have been most dangerous. A tight contest should go the home side’s way, with DC’s attack just doing enough to earn a crucial three points.
DC United 2-1 FC Cincinnati
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