FC Cincinnati-Philadelphia Union rivalry's next chapter is Wednesday at TQL Stadium

The mounting frustration in and around the Philadelphia Union seemed to boil over against Inter Miami CF.

Playing at home at Subaru Park on Saturday against a depleted Miami, the Union were made to look second-class in front of their home fans. They conceded a second-half equalizer, and then not only failed to produce convincing chances up two men via to Miami red cards, but also conceded a stoppage time goal to lose the match, 2-1.

The match was widely criticized by fans almost immediately after the match. Winners of 62 games since 2020, the Union fell to 4-5-8, barely clinging a playoff position. Players, too, were critical − of themselves and, in the case of defender Kai Wagner, of the club's ownership for not investing enough in the team.

That matters to FC Cincinnati beyond the obvious fact that Cincinnati hosts Philadelphia at TQL Stadium Wednesday. The clubs have been inextricably linked for years but now appear to be on divergent paths, with Cincinnati still pointed skyward and the Union possibly descending from its days as a powerhouse.

On Wednesday, Philadelphia will be eager to show the league its long run as a top contender isn't over. A road result against FC Cincinnati, the defending Supporters' Shield winners from 2023, would convince many of just that.

As FC Cincinnati's on-field renaissance took shape and later took hold, the links between FCC and Philadelphia were undeniable. FCC's then-new regime of thought leaders − General Manager Chris Albright, Director of Soccer Strategy Kyle McCarthy, and head coach Pat Noonan − all migrated from Philadelphia to Cincinnati to undertake the project in the Queen City.

Albright and Co. then seemed to borrow heavily from the Union model for Cincinnati's rebuild, taking on and leaning on several former veteran Union players. In that way, FC Cincinnati's most successful period was at least partly inspired by Philadelphia, which was then the class of the Eastern Conference, and a model for sustainable consistency across MLS.

Then, it was almost a natural progression from the aforementioned factors that FC Cincinnati and the Union developed a rich on-field rivalry. Twice the feud between the clubs culminated in knockout round playoff matches (2022, 2023), but even their preseason encounters were emotional and heated.

Has FC Cincinnati surpassed Philadelphia Union?

To truly prove itself, FC Cincinnati would have to navigate the Union − keep pace with them and ultimately surpass them. Whether or not FC Cincinnati has truly surpassed the Union can be debated, but there's plenty of evidence to support that claim.

There's no question Philadelphia will arrive to TQL Stadium during a downturn in results, but Noonan, speaking during a Monday news conference, didn't seem convinced the Union's long run as a top MLS club was over.

"My focus, our focus, is here, but of course, from afar, you know, I follow them in a different way than other teams. And it's a it's a tough stretch, and it hasn't happened outside of maybe a bunch of draws, I think, maybe it was last year," Noonan said. "So, they've been stable for a long time. And when you're stable and at the top of the league for so long, anytime there's a stretch where you're not winning games, you're not getting results, there's going to be criticism. That's a part of what we're all dealing with. And so I think the compliment there is, it's been so long since we've seen them have struggl, especially at home, that we just haven't talked about it. But I can tell you, with Jim and with some of those leaders, they're going to be fine.

"That's my view of it, and it doesn't make me any more comfortable about Wednesday. If there's anything that you know, anytime their back's against the wall, these guys step up. Jim knows how to lead that group. We have to be very cautious about an opponent that, while they might be struggling with results, has been in these situations before and come out on top."

The Union will be hampered by multiple personnel absences on Wednesday. Perhaps most notable will be Julian Carranza, who scored 34 goals over the last three MLS campaigns but appears set for a transfer to Dutch side, Feyenoord. Carranza was held out of the Miami match, and Curtin confirmed afterward Carranza had played his last match for Philadelphia.

On Tuesday, Curtin announced captain Alejandro Bedoya would miss two to three weeks with a quadriceps injury.

Goalkeeper Andre Blake also remains unavailable following meniscus surgery in May.

The latest on FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati is riding high after Saturday's wild, 4-2 win at San Jose Earthquakes. FCC received a historic, nine-minute hat-trick from substitute Yuya Kubo to come from behind late and clinch its 11th victory of 2024.

Attentions quickly turned away from the win at San Jose to the potentially season-altering injury Cincinnati brought home with it from PayPal Park via Matt Miazga.

An injury initially described by the club as a laceration appeared on Monday to be more serious than that. Noonan, apparently in possession of what was then the latest information available about Miazga's leg injury, said Miazga definitely wouldn't play against the Union. He added the injury could potentially be a long-term issue.

For at least the short term, FC Cincinnati will be without its top center back pairing of Miazga and Miles Robinson, who is away for a lengthy but undetermined period with the U.S. men's national team.

The absences of the two players puts Noonan in the spotlight as he'll have to juggle has back line, and possibly find a fix that could last through the summer months.

As for FC Cincinnati's attack, the club is averaging two goals per game over its last seven matches, so there's far less concern there. Captain Luciano Acosta and Kubo are tied for the team lead with seven goals, and Acosta is the joint-MLS leader in assists (13).

The game

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati

Broadcast: Apple TV MLS Season Pass

All-time series: Philadelphia Union lead the all-time series, 6-3-3.

Cincinnati.com prediction: FC Cincinnati 2, Philadelphia Union 2.

FC Cincinnati

Record (MLS): 11-3-3, 36 points; Second place in Eastern Conference

Goals for: 27 (No. 4 in east; No. 11 in MLS)

Goals against: 18 (Tied for No. 2 in east; tied for No. 2 in MLS)

Head coach: Pat Noonan, third season as head coach

Projected starting XI: Roman Celentano goalkeeper; Luca Orellano, left wing back; Ian Murphy, center back; Alvas Powell, center back; Nick Hagglund, center back; DeAndre Yedlin, right wing back; Obinna Nwobodo, midfielder; Pavel Bucha, midfielder; Luciano Acosta, midfielder; Kevin Kelsy, forward; Sergio Santos, forward.

Philadelphia Union

Record: 4-5-8, 20 points; eighth place in Eastern Conference

Goals for: 28 (No. 3 in east; No. 9 in MLS)

Goals against: 25 (No. 8 in east; No. 16 in MLS)

Head coach: Jim Curtin

Starting XI: Oliver Semmle, goalkeeper; Olivier Mbaizo, right back; Jakob Glesnes, center back; Nathan Harriel, center back; Kai Wagner, left back; Leon Flach, midfielder; Quinn Sullivan, midfielder; Jack McGlynn, midfielder; Jeremy Rafanello, midfielder; Mikael Uhre, forward; Chris Donovan, forward.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati, Philadelphia Union MLS matchday preview at TQL Stadium