FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls August 20 Betting Odds & Analysis

After a third straight game in which they scored multiple goals, FC Cincinnati goes back on the road this weekend with a chance to get back into a playoff spot.

Despite only one loss since May, FC Cincinnati are in a three-way tie for seventh place and trail in the tiebreakers with nine games left. Saturday takes them to Harrison, New Jersey, for a 6:00 p.m. ET game against the New York Red Bulls, streaming on ESPN+ and airing on STAR 64.

These teams met in Cincinnati on July 9, and both teams scored early but couldn't find a second goal in a 1-1 draw. Last year the Red Bulls won in Cincinnati 1-0, and the teams drew 0-0 in New Jersey. FC Cincinnati's only win at Red Bull Arena was 1-0 on September 19, 2019, and they trail the all-time series 4-2 with two draws.

FC Cincinnati Offense Stays Hot

FC Cincinnati has scored in 17 of their last 18 games, and they have bagged at least two goals in 11 of those contests. But the defense has allowed a goal in 13 of the last 14 games, with multiple goals in eight of those games. As a result, FCC have only one loss since May, but they have eight draws to go with a pair of wins. 

The Orange and Blue are 4-4-4 on the road this season, including draws in three of their last four games away from home. With trips left to both New York teams, Seattle and Real Salt Lake, FCC has a tough road ahead of them before ending the season at last-place D.C. United.

Striker Brandon Vazquez is having a spectacular season, and the 23-year-old may get a USMNT call up next month. He leads FCC with 15 goals which ranks second in MLS after 24 games. Vazquez has scored in four straight games and six of his last seven starts.

Captain Luciano Acosta leads the league with 14 assists, despite missing three games. He actually missed those games because of an altercation against the Red Bulls in July. Acosta collided with Aaron Long late in the game, gave an extra shove to draw a red card, and then made contact with the ref to earn a suspension.

The All-Star has been on fire since returning to action on July 30; Acosta has four assists but is still looking for his first goal since June 29. He has six goals on the season, third to Vazquez and Brenner's nine in the FCC attack. Brenner has scored in three straight games, with a pair of goals in the 4-4 draw against Inter Miami on July 30.

Former Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga made his Cincinnati debut against Atlanta last weekend with 66 minutes. The 27-year-old New Jersey native makes a return home this weekend to the place where he won two Supporters' Shields before leaving for Chelsea. He started at left back in FCC's 3-4-1-2 last week as Geoff Cameron took the middle, and Nick Hagglund started at right-back.

Miazga solidifies the defense, with Cameron and Hagglund both starting at least 17 games this season. As the three build some chemistry and cohesion, they should give the Orange and Blue the best option to keep the opposition in check. 

Red Bulls Struggle at Home

The Red Bulls, like Cincinnati, are better on the road this season. They have only three wins in 12 home MLS games this season, with four losses and five draws. Wednesday's win in Atlanta was their eighth road win of the season, and 27 of their 40 points have come on the road.

After being shut out in two straight games, the Red Bulls got back on the board Wednesday night and nearly pulled off a shutout. Lewis Morgan scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season, and John Tonkin scored his first of the season. Only a last gasp, 94th-minute goal from the hosts prevented Carlos Coronel from getting his seventh clean sheet of the season.

When the Red Bulls played in Cincinnati this season, Morgan scored on a penalty kick. The Red Bulls need to keep calm as players from both teams got into it after the final whistle. With the return game just a month later, there could still be resentment on both sides.

Behind Morgan's 11 goals, FCC will have to keep an eye on Luquinhas, who has five goals, and Patryk Klimala, who has four. The Red Bulls also get goals from their defense, with captain Aaron Long being dangerous on headers, and he has four goals this season.

Betting Analysis

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FC Cincinnati +340 moneyline

New York Red Bulls -150 moneyline

Draw +300

Total Goals: 2.5. Over -145. Under +115

This is a unique matchup as FCC ranks third in goals scored, and the Red Bulls have allowed the third least goals in the East. Cincinnati needs to do a better job of defending after they score, as they tend to give the lead right back. Doing that against a top-four team like the Red Bulls is a recipe for disaster.