FC Cincinnati and the Philadelphia Union will meet in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second time after the Philadelphia Union knocked FC Cincinnati out in last season’s Conference Semifinals with a 1-0 win in Chester. Leon Flach scored the game’s only goal in the 59th minute.
The playoff defeat last season was FC Cincinnati’s only loss in its last five meetings with the Philadelphia Union (W2 D2) after the Philadelphia Union had won five of the first six meetings (D1). FC Cincinnati’s only two wins over the Philadelphia Union have come in the last two meetings between the sides at TQL Stadium, including a 1-0 victory in April.
FC Cincinnati’s 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls in game one of the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs was its fifth win in its last 12 home matches in all competitions (D5 L2) after winning the previous 13 at TQL Stadium. FC Cincinnati has never lost a home knockout match (W6 D2) but has been eliminated on penalties twice (2023 Leagues Cup Round of 32 vs Nashville SC, 2023 US Open Cup Semifinal vs Inter Miami FC).
The Philadelphia Union won its first road match in the MLS Cup Playoffs in game two against the New England Revolution on November 8. The win was the Philadelphia Union’s sixth on the road in all competitions in 2023 as they’ve won more away matches in a calendar year only once in club history: seven in 2022.
Luciano Acosta scored (1) or assisted (2) on three of FC Cincinnati’s four goals against the New York Red Bulls in the first round, including two of the three goals in game one at home. Acosta has recorded 21 goal contributions (11 goals, 10 assists) in his last 13 home MLS matches (including playoffs), including seven in his last four at TQL Stadium (4 goals, 3 assists).
Three of the four goals the Philadelphia Union scored in their first-round series win over the New England Revolution came on set pieces (one penalty, two free kicks). Overall, more than half (12/21) of the goals the Philadelphia Union has scored in the MLS Cup Playoffs have been in set pieces, including six of the last seven dating back to last year’s MLS Cup Final.
