FC Cincinnati set to face Philadelphia Union

For FC Cincinnati's trip to play at Philadelphia Union, what might have otherwise been a telling barometer of FCC's progress could end up being a test of survival skills.

FC Cincinnati traveled Friday for a Saturday match against Philadelphia at Subaru Park (7:30 p.m.), and FCC will look for one of its most significant regular season results ever in the midst of personnel uncertainties. 

FC Cincinnati is more than flirting with the playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, and it's the first time the club's been in that position in its Major League Soccer existence. 

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A match against one-loss Philadelphia would seem to be an opportune moment for Cincinnati to make a statement regarding its intentions for the MLS Cup playoffs, but for the fact that Cincinnati could be down two of its most significant contributors.

After entering and exiting health and safety protocols following a trip to his native Argentina during the now-concluded international break, FCC's Luciano Acosta is available for selection.

However, Acosta's match fitness remains a question.

“He is available and we've just kind of monitored it since he's joined the group, as far how he's feeling and just with some time lost, day-by-day what does it look like for him with his fitness, with how he feels physically to see how we want to utilize him from the start or in a reserve role," FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said Thursday.

Perhaps equally concerning for Cincinnati is that defensive midfield stalwart Junior Moreno is listed as questionable on the club's health report going into the Philadelphia match.

Most if not all MLS clubs need full and healthy rosters to have any chance of competing with the Union, which once again appears to be an MLS Cup contender. 

Cincinnati, though, might have to do with the players available rather than its first-choice starting lineup for one of the biggest regular season matches in the club's young MLS history. 

"These longer stretches are a chance to work on things in training with hopefully larger numbers," Noonan said of his club's first match coming out of the weeks-long international break. "We were able to get some guys back that had missed some extended time.