This weekend, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (8-8-9) look to extend their winning streak to a season-high four matches when they face FC Cincinnati (9-9-7) at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Nippert Stadium.
The road match is the first time the Hounds have played FC Cincinnati since April 1 when Pittsburgh lost 1-0 at Highmark Stadium.
Since FC Cincinnati joined the USL last season, the Hounds are 0-3-1 versus them.
At 9-9-7, FC Cincinnati only has one more point than the Hounds, but is two spots ahead at seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings. FC Cincinnati is fifth in the East in goals conceded (35), sixth in goals scored (33) and tied for seventh in conversion rate (14 percent).
Last weekend, FC Cincinnati snapped four-match winless streak by defeating Ottawa Fury FC, 3-1. Prior to the streak, FC Cincinnati went 6-3-4 from May 6 – July 22, a stretch that saw the club never go more than two matches without a win.
In his first season with FC Cincinnati, forward Djiby Fall leads the club with 11 goals. That mark by the Senegal native is also fourth-best in the East. As fantastic as Fall is offensively, he has had issues with discipline this season. Fall’s two red cards are tied for the league lead and his 41 fouls conceded are most on the team.
Strengths
Home dominance – The difference between FC Cincinnati’s play at home and on the road is remarkable. FC Cincinnati is 7-2-5 at Nippert Stadium and 2-7-2 elsewhere. Only the Tampa Bay Rowdies (9-1-2) have collected more points at home than FC Cincinnati.
Headers – FC Cincinnati’s 10 header goals are tops in the East. They have taken advantage close to the goal, scoring a total of 30 goals inside the box, fifth-best in the East.
Weaknesses
Record against winning teams – FC Cincinnati is only 1-6-5 against USL opponents with a winning record. Though it currently holds a playoff spot, FC Cincinnati could be in trouble in postseason play since every team ahead of it in the standings has a positive record.
Discipline – Including Fall’s two red cards, FC Cincinnati has received a league-high eight red cards this season. FC Cincinnati’s 338 fouls and 44 yellow cards are sixth and eighth, respectively, in the East.
