Updated 23 October 2026.
DC United and Cincinnati meet again at Audi Field just three days after their last encounter. Cincinnati won 2-1 on 21 October, and the return fixture kicks off at 00:30 UK on Sunday 25 October. Cincinnati have the highest both-teams-to-score rate in MLS and one of its leakiest defences, DC United have a striker who has had a shot in 15 straight games, and we expect goals at both ends.
DC United sit 13th in the Eastern Conference on 33 points from 30 games, with seven wins, 12 draws and 11 defeats. Goals have been the problem: their 1.27 per game is the 5th fewest in the league and they've put up the 5th fewest shots on target, at 4.37 a game. Their recent form is poor too. Of their last five, they drew 3-3 at Vancouver, lost 4-0 at Inter Miami, beat New York RB 2-1 at home, lost 4-1 at Orlando City and then went down 2-1 at Cincinnati.
Cincinnati are 8th in the Eastern Conference on 39 points, with 10 wins, nine draws and 11 defeats, and they are a very different kind of team. They score 2.07 a game, the 4th most in the league, and their 6.00 shots on target per game is the 2nd most. The cost is at the back: only one side has conceded more than their 2.37 per game, and they've kept clean sheets in just 7% of matches, the 3rd lowest rate. Both teams have scored in 77% of their games, the highest figure in MLS. Their last four games were a 3-1 win at Atlanta, a 3-2 loss to New England at home, a 2-0 home defeat to Columbus and the 2-1 win over DC United.
They also collect cards at the 4th highest rate in the league, 2.40 a game, while DC United foul more than most, 13.03 a game, the 6th most.
DC United possible starting lineup:
Johnson; Hefti, Rowles, Bartlett, Nono; Kurokawa, Dozzell, Servania; Hopkins, Peglow, Baribo
Cincinnati possible starting lineup:
Celentano; Smith, Hadebe, Hagglund, Malacia; Bucha, Gidi, Echenique; Evander, Barlow, Denkey
Tai Baribo has had at least one shot in 15 straight games, averaging 2.7 a game over 24 appearances, and he is 1.02 at midnite to make it 16. He has also had a shot on target in four of his last five, and he is 1.20 at bet365 for another.
Tom Barlow is the form forward on the visiting side. He has had a shot on target in seven straight games, 1.40 at bet365 to extend that run, and a shot of any kind in seven in a row, averaging 3.1.
Kévin Denkey has managed two or more shots in six straight games and averages 4.3 per game across 28 appearances. He is 1.13 at midnite for two or more shots again.
Silvan Hefti has made at least one tackle in 15 straight games at right-back, averaging 3.5. Teammate Peglow has an 11-game tackle run of his own, at 2.5 a game.
Cincinnati centre-back Teenage Hadebe has had a shot in three straight games and is 2.00 at bet365 to have one again.
We back Cincinnati narrowly, giving them a 40% chance of the win against 37% for DC United. Cincinnati are 2.20 at bet365, DC United 2.75 and the draw 4.00. Both teams to score is 1.36 at bet365 and we put it at 74%.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| DC United win | 2.75 (bet365) | 37% |
| Draw | 4.00 (bet365) | 23% |
| Cincinnati win | 2.20 (bet365) | 40% |
| Both teams to score | 1.36 (bet365) | 74% |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.40 (bet365) | 74% |
We project 1.90 goals for DC United and 1.96 for Cincinnati. Our predicted score is 1-1, the likeliest single scoreline at 8.6%, so a draw is in play, though we make Cincinnati slightly more likely to win. 1-2 and 2-1 are not far behind. We give four or more goals a 54% chance, and a clean sheet is unlikely at either end: 14% for DC United and 15% for Cincinnati.
Statz prediction: DC United 1-1 Cincinnati
The MLS game at Audi Field kicks off at 00:30 UK on Sunday 25 October 2026.
We predict a 1-1 draw, the likeliest single scoreline at 8.6%, though we make Cincinnati slightly more likely to win the match.
Cincinnati are favourites at 2.20 at bet365, against 2.75 for DC United and 4.00 for the draw. We give Cincinnati a 40% chance and DC United 37%.
We put both teams to score at 74%. Cincinnati's games have seen both sides score 77% of the time, the highest rate in MLS.
DC United are 13th in the Eastern Conference on 33 points and Cincinnati are 8th on 39 points.
Tai Baribo has had a shot in 15 straight games for DC United. Tom Barlow has had a shot on target in seven straight for Cincinnati, and Kévin Denkey has had two or more shots in six in a row.
DC United: Johnson; Hefti, Rowles, Bartlett, Nono; Kurokawa, Dozzell, Servania; Hopkins, Peglow, Baribo. Cincinnati: Celentano; Smith, Hadebe, Hagglund, Malacia; Bucha, Gidi, Echenique; Evander, Barlow, Denkey.