It may have been a bumpy ride, but they got there.After high expectations for FC Cincinnati this year, many of the FCC faithful were surprised to see the Orange and Blue suffer a series of significant missteps early on in the season.The team suffered two early losses and was forced to settle for a last-minute draw in another game through a mistimed own-goal, leading to fears that the team might underperform this year after the loss of star midfielder Lucho Acosta.Thankfully though, these fears proved only temporary.Flash forward to this week and the picture now looks very different. FC Cincinnati secured their fourth win in a row in an away game against Chicago on Saturday, catapulting them into a tie for first place in the MLS's Eastern Conference.The team shares the designation with Charlotte FC, who each have 19 points.The point system is the main way that the MLS and soccer leagues across the world determine their standings. Wins are worth three points, draws are worth one point, while losses are worth no points.However, there is at least one caveat to this newfound seat at the top: the MLS's rules ultimately will not permit the first place crown to be shared in the end. While tie-breaking procedures do not matter much on a practical level until the end of the regular season, unfortunately, Charlotte has a larger goal difference than FC Cincinnati, meaning that they would take the contested top spot if the season were to end today.Charlotte FC has scored nine more goals than have been scored against them. On the other hand, FC Cincinnati has scored only two more than have been scored against them.Fortunately for soccer fans though, the season is only getting started, and there is much more of the game to be played.Notably, the Cincinnati team looks a lot different this year than from prior seasons though, and the offensive powerhouse lineup that dominated last season is largely nowhere to be seen anymore. 2024's leading team goal scorer and previous league-wide MVP Lucho Acosta is now gone from the team, while star forwards Yuya Kubo and Luca Orellano have had dramatically more muted presences on the field this season so far.Instead, the new addition of Evander da Silva Ferreira has emerged as the Orange and Blue's top goal scorer this season, with six points scored across the team's first nine games. Meanwhile, another new addition, Kévin Denkey, has come in at No. 2, with four goals. All the while, Yuya Kubo, Sergio Santos, and Gerardo Valenzuela each have racked up one goal apiece. Orellano so far has had none.However, while Cincinnati and Charlotte may lead the conference in points for the time being, there are two other teams who remain very close behind.One of these is the Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati's longtime league rival. In fact, the first place position for Cincinnati was only possible because the Crew suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday. The Crew now have one less win and two more draws than both teams, putting them at 18 total points after Week 9 of the season.The other 바카라 게임 웹사이트� and arguably more notable 바카라 게임 웹사이트� reason the two teams now lead the conference comes from the team who the Crew suffered their first loss to on Saturday: Inter Miami. And as the newly sole remaining undefeated team this year in Major League Soccer, Inter Miami very well may be sitting atop the Eastern Conference right now if it weren't for one important reason and one reason alone: an early bye week. Miami, along with New England FC, have only played eight games so far this season, putting Miami in a tie with the Columbus Crew at 18 points. Meanwhile, the rest of the league has played nine. And as the club home of soccer superstar Lionel Messi, Miami may prove a formidable foe and prominent MLS Cup contender for all 29 other MLS clubs this year who go up against them.On the other side, the Vancouver Whitecaps currently top the mountain of Western Conference teams with 20 points. The next two teams, Austin FC and Minnesota United FC, each have 16 points.FC Cincinnati now goes on to face Sporting Kansas City at TQL Stadium for their next game on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.