Our prediction for this MLS match:
Austin FC
Match Time & Date:
27/02/2022
00:00
Prediction: 2-0
FC Cincinnati
Austin play host to Cincinnati at their Q2 Stadium in the opening match of the new MLS season. Austin were having their ups and downs in pre-season, and they head into the season opener following a 1-0 loss to Chicago. All Rodney Redes, Danny Hoesen, and Ulises Segura miss Sunday’s clash with injuries, while new signing Felipe Martins is likely to make MLS debut against Cincinnati.
The visitors, on the other hand, played out a 1-1 draw with Philadelphia Union in their only warm-up game of the pre-season. Cincinnati served as a cannon fodder for their rivals in the 2021 MLS campaign, and seeing that they failed to reinforce the squad in the last transfer window, we are tempted to put our money on Austin, who have turned their Q2 Stadium into a real fortress. There are no injury worries in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Haris Medunjanin):
After spending four seasons at AZ Alkmaar, Haris Medunjanin joined Spanish side Valladolid and he appeared in 42 league games for Pucela. The Bosnian midfielder played for the likes of Sparta Rotterdam, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Gaziantepspor in the past as well and in 2014 he returned to Spain, signing a contract with La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna.
Medunjanin scored two goals in 24 league appearances for the Galician outfit and in 2016 he joined his former club Maccabi Tel Aviv on a one-and-a-half-year deal. The left-footed footballer, who was born on March 8, 1985 won two European Championship titles with Netherlands U-21 team (2006, 2007), but he decided to represent Bosnian and Herzegovina on senior level.
He made his first start for the Balkan Dragons in a 1-0 loss to Portugal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off match. Haris Medunjanin currently plays for Philadelphia Union and his contract with the MLS club expires on January 31, 2017.
Highlighted Team (FC Cincinnati):
FC Cincinnati will make their MLS debut in the 2019 season. Based in Ohio, the Orange and Blue are a team who is expected to play their home games at West End Stadium. However, seeing that the West End Stadium is still under construction, FC Cincinnati will welcome their rivals at Nippert Stadium at the start of the season.
The team’s home colors are orange and blue, whilst they wear white shirts and white shorts when playing on the travels. Justin Hoyte, who used to play for the likes of Arsenal and Middlesbrough in the Premier League is considered one of the team’s most famous footballers.
The Orange and Blue will make their MLS debut against Seattle Sounders, whilst they will play their first ever home game in the league against Portland Timbers. It has to be noted that FC Cincinnati has five supporters groups: Die Innestadt, The Legion, The Pride, Queen City and The Briogaid.
