FC Cincinnati looks to push MLS winning streak to five games against New England Revolution at TQL Stadium

FC Cincinnati's trend line of results against New England Revolution is unflattering, but FCC's grown accustomed to bucking trends like that in 2022.

FC Cincinnati, winner of four consecutive matches in Major League Soccer, has lost four matches in a row to New England dating back to 2019.

But just as Cincinnati had only endured losing at Orlando City SC's Exploria Stadium prior to winning there March 12, and just as it had never beaten Minnesota United FC until this month, nor won four matches in a row, the FCC of 2022 has shown an aptitude for ceasing such

More: FC Cincinnati 'a confident group' ahead of New England Revolution visit

More: MLS salary guide: Here's how FC Cincinnati is spending its money under GM Chris Albright

More: FC Cincinnati: How Brandon Vazquez played with U.S. MNT manager Gregg Berhalter watching

FC Cincinnati (6-5-1) will attempt to upend New England (3-5-3) Saturday at TQL Stadium (6 p.m.).

While the clubs met May 11 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with New England scoring five unanswered goals to surge to a 5-1 win, it's up for debate as to whether that non-league match is applicable to Saturday's encounter.

Revolution head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena said during a Thursday news conference he's expecting a very different look from the hosts.

"They would have, I would think, eight new players on the field from the team we saw a couple weeks ago," Arena said.

FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan, who reiterated Thursday that FCC played the Revolution with intent to advance while fielding a less-experienced starting lineup, indicated his side might look to the May 11 game for insight on how to play New England.

"You get to see live some of the tendencies from their group," Noonan said. "Strengths, weaknesses that we think there are some that we can exploit. Certainly the challenges of one of the best players in our league in Carles (Gil) and his ability to get on the ball in dangerous spots and make the game. It's very tough to defend him and to understand how to communicate passing him on, so that we're not getting pulled out of our shape.

"That's certainly a challenge that we weren't able to effectively deal with in the first matchup and (Adam) Buksa in front of goal, he's a very good player in the box as far as finishing plays off, whether it's attacking crosses, from wider positions in the air, you saw that on their third goal, or just his overall movement and finding good spots, you saw that against Atlanta.

More: Luciano Acosta leads FC Cincinnati to fourth-straight MLS win with late, deciding goal

More: Former NKU men's soccer player Alex Greive inches closer to FIFA World Cup

"He can make plays on his own. And so they're two players that we have to be mindful of, but they just do a really good job of spacing the field and moving the ball in ways where if your pressure is broken, you have to be ready to defend the box. Because they'll put numbers in the box, they'll put crosses in the box, and they get good deliveries. We saw that firsthand, and now it's how do we improve in those moments, and certainly with those players?”

Gil netted a hat-trick against Cincinnati on May 11 while Buksa scored two goals.

New England might be lagging in the Eastern Conference standings but still maintains the core group that won last season's Supporters Shield, awarded to the MLS regular-season points leader.

Among the stars included on the Revolution roster that's expected to start at TQL Stadium is goalkeeper Matt Turner, who will more than likely make the trip with the U.S. men's national team to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Turner should also be expected to compete for the starting job in Qatar, as well as make another appearance in Cincinnati for the USMNT's June 1 friendly against 24th-ranked Morocco at TQL Stadium.

Turner's opposite number, FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano, should provide formidable opposition to Turner as Celentano boasts an 84% save percentage.

The Game

Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET on Saturday | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

TV/Radio/Stream: WSTR Star64 / ESPN1530 / fccincinnati.com

Series info: New England leads the all-time, all-competition series against FC Cincinnati, 4-1-0.

Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 2, New England Revolution 2.

FC Cincinnati

2022 record: 6-5-1; sixth place in MLS Eastern Conference (6-5-1)

Goals for (all competitions): 16

Goals against: 18

Coach: Pat Noonan - first season at FC Cincinnati

Projected starting lineup: 

Roman Celentano, goalkeeper

Alvas Powell, right back

Ian Murphy, center back

Geoff Cameron, center back

Nick Hagglund, center back

John Nelson, left back

Obinna Nwobodo, defensive midfielder

Junior Moreno, defensive midfielder

Luciano Acosta, forward

Brandon Vazquez, forward

Dominique Badji, forward

New England Revolution
2022 record: 3-5-3; 12 points, 11th place in Eastern Conference 

Goals for: 18

Goals against: 20

Coach: Bruce Arena – fourth season at New England head coach (47-26-27 at New England)

Projected starting lineup: 

Matt Turner, goalkeeper

Brandon Bye, defender

Andrew Farrell, defender

Henry Kessler, defender

DeJuan Jones, defender

Arnór Traustason, midielfer

Tommy McNamara, midfielder

Emmanuel Boateng, midfielder

Carles Gil, midfielder

Sebastian Lletget, midfielder

Adam Buksa, forward

Player to watch: Dylan Borrero – New England Revolution saw the arrival of Colombian and Under-22 Initiative player, Dylan Borrero. The versatile, 20-year-old now-former Clube Atlético Mineiro signing traveled but didn't dress for the Revolution's match last week at Atlanta United. Arena said during his Thursday remarks that Borrero has looked good in training but likely  won't take on a heavy minutes load this week at TQL Stadium. Further, Arena said a decision would be made Friday as to whether or not Borrero would travel to Cincinnati with the possibility of making his MLS debut hanging in the balance.

Noteworthy: New England Revolution have conceded eight goals this season in the final 15 minutes of a game – the most in MLS. For its part, FC Cincinnati has scored late match-winning goals in each of its last two league matches. Luciano Acosta scored in the 85th minute against Chicago Fire in a 2-1 win and Brandon Vazquez scored in the 93rd minute to cap a 1-0 victory at Minnesota United FC.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati looks to push MLS winning streak to five games against New England Revolution at TQL Stadium