FC Cincinnati – Inter Miami CF

MLS continues to deliver chaotic matches on a continuous basis, and this matchup between FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami smells like entertainment from a long way away. Two offensive teams with enormous qualities going forward, but at the same time two teams that still give away far too much defensively. When you look at how these teams have looked in recent weeks, it's hard not to get the feeling that this could be another night where the goalkeepers will have enough to do.

Cincinnati comes into the game after a 2-2 draw away to Charlotte, where they actually led 2-0 at halftime before it all unraveled in the second half. At the same time, it says a lot about this team that they are still unbeaten in their last six MLS games. They are difficult to beat, they create a lot offensively, but they very rarely hold back completely.

Inter Miami responded to their Orlando defeat by traveling to Toronto and winning 4-2. Offensively, Hoyos' team still looks extremely dangerous once they get going. The problem? They still look far too open defensively. This is simply not the same stable Miami team that won the league last year.

FC Cincinnati – A team that refuses to die

It's hard not to like a lot of what Cincinnati is doing offensively right now. They have scored 24 goals in 12 MLS games, and at home at TQL Stadium they often play with a fierce pace and aggressive pressure up the pitch.

Even though they let a two-goal lead slip against Charlotte last time out, it also speaks volumes about how much offensive power this team has. They scored twice on the road against a Charlotte team that is usually strong at home, and now they face an Inter Miami defense that still looks very unstable when the opponent attacks with speed and direct play.

Cincinnati has now scored two or more goals in several of their last league games, and the statistics clearly point to this team continuing to cause Miami major problems. They are averaging over two goals scored per game in their last ten games, while their games are averaging almost five goals overall.

It just doesn't smell like a quiet night for the Miami defense here either.

Inter Miami CF – Offensive machine, defensive chaos

Inter Miami remains one of the most entertaining teams to watch in MLS. When Messi, Suárez and the rest of the offense combine, they can tear apart any team in the league. The only problem is that the team also looks extremely vulnerable defensively.

The last few weeks have been a perfect example of that. Miami completely lost their minds against Orlando when they collapsed from a 3-0 lead to a loss, before responding a few days later by scoring four goals away to Toronto. There is a high level of top-level offense, but there is still very little control in this team.

Inter Miami still has huge spaces in the transition game, and against a Cincinnati team that loves to attack directly and with pace, this could be very uncomfortable for the guests.

It's also no coincidence that Miami's games consistently tend towards high totals. They score a lot, but they also give up far more chances than a team with their ambitions really should.

Conclusion

Everything points to an open match. Cincinnati will be attacking at home at TQL Stadium, while Inter Miami rarely plays games with much control over 90 minutes.

Both teams score a lot of goals. Both teams concede a lot of goals. And both teams have had several games recently that have developed into pure MLS circuses after the break.

What makes this extra interesting is that Cincinnati really does seem to have the offensive weapons that can hurt Miami time and time again. Inter Miami will certainly create their chances as well, but the question is whether they can keep the hosts at bay long enough.

There are many indications that this could be one of the most goal-rich MLS matches this round.

Bet suggestions

Main game:
MLS At 01:30 FC Cincinnati - Inter Miami: FC Cincinnati over 1.5 goals (1.80)

Alternative game:
MLS At 01:30 FC Cincinnati – Inter Miami: Over 3.5 goals + both teams score (1.90)