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FC Cincinnati v Chicago Fire: Intense training and leadership sparked winning run, says Yedlin
FC Cincinnati will look to extend their win streak to four matches when they face the Chicago Fire in a Western Conference clash this week.
FC Cincinnati defender DeAndre Yedlin believes more intensity in training helped the side regain their winning form.
After a run of four games without a win, Cincinnati have since responded with three consecutive victories after a two-week break.
Wins over the New England Revolution, CF Montreal, and Orlando City leaves them on 39 points, just one behind Western Conference leaders Philadelphia Union in second.
Yedlin praised both the players and staff for their increase in intensity and responsibility over the break.
"Training has been a little bit different since then," said Yedlin.
“After that week that we had that wasn't very good, Pat ]Noonan] said there's gonna be some changes in the way we do things, and there has been.
"And it's not just on the players but on the staff as well. So training has been a little bit more intense, just a little bit more competition. And I think you can see it in the games that there's a bit more fight from us, and that starts in the work we put in.
"We learned that we need to come together a bit more as a team. And if that means taking yellows, that means taking yellows.
"Obviously, you have to be smart, but I think we just need to show that we're united, and that nobody's going to bully us. That's what that is."
After a long-term injury, Matt Miazga slowly returned to his starting role over the past two months.
After playing the full 90 minutes in each of the last three games, Yedlin believes Miazga is crucial to Cincinnati.
Yedlin added: "In that position, I think the most important thing is experience, and he's one of the most experienced guys on this team.
"So for him to be able to command back there, especially when the other centre-back positions kind of rotate a lot… different guys have to fill in… to be able to have that anchor back there is incredibly important for us."
Cincinnati will look to pick up a fourth consecutive win when they face the Chicago Fire in their next match.
Chicago beat Charlotte FC 3-2 last time out, bouncing back from back-to-back defeats, and they sit eighth in the East as they aim to hold onto a playoff spot.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Cincinnati – Kevin Denkey
Kevin Denkey is Cincinnati's joint-top scorer with 11 goals and has scored the critical first goal of the match on six occasions.
The Togo striker has scored five times in his last eight MLS matches.
Chicago Fire – Philip Zinckernagel
Philip Zinckernagel recorded a goal and an assist on June 28 to bring his season total to eight goals and eight assists.
He is one of three players in MLS, along with Anders Dreyer and Hany Mukhtar, with at least eight goals and eight assists in 2025.
MATCH PREDICTION – FC CINCINNATI WIN
At home this season, Cincinnati have five wins, two draws, and one loss in eight MLS contests.
Chicago, meanwhile, have won three and lost three in their last six outings.
Each of the last 10 matches between Cincinnati and Chicago have been decided by a single goal. That is the longest active such regular-season streak of any MLS fixture.
Cincinnati won the last MLS meeting between the sides, emerging victorious 3-2 at Soldier Field in April. Evander led the Orange and Blue with goals in the ninth and 71st minutes. Denkey was also on target. Hugo Cuypers and Brian Gutierrez were on target for the Fire.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Cincinnati – 51.7%
Draw – 24.6%
Chicago Fire – 23.7%