Major League Soccer Regular Season - 18
FC Cincinnati 4 - 2 FT San Jose Earthquakes
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
20' K. Smith
D. Munie (T. Werner) 26'
34' B. J. Ramirez Leon (Evander)
HT
↓ N. Fernandez ↑I. Harkes 46'
T. Werner (P. Judd) 57'
↓ Vitor Costa ↑J. Ricketts 60'
70' ↓ K. Mboma ↑T. Barlow
70' ↓ K. Smith ↑T. Hadebe
↓ O. Bouda ↑J. Skahan 73'
80' T. Barlow (Evander)
↓ B. Kikanovic ↑J. Jasinski 81'
↓ R. Vieira ↑D. Romney 81'
82' Evander (O. Nwobodo)
87' P. Bucha
88' ↓ E. Echenique ↑A. Powell
88' ↓ O. Nwobodo ↑T. Anunga
89' M. Robinson
90'+3 ↓ K. Denkey ↑A. Jabbari
90'+6 A. Jabbari (T. Barlow)
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
FC Cincinnati
Goalkeepers
Roman Celentano
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Kyle Smith
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Miles Robinson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Samuel Gidi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Ender Echenique
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pavel Bucha
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Obinna Nwobodo
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Bryan Ramirez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Evander
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kenji Mboma Dem
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kévin Denkey
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Evan Louro
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nick Hagglund
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Andrei Chirila
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Teenage Hadebe
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Alvas Powell
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Tah Anunga
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ayoub Jabbari
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Tom Barlow
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Kristian Fletcher
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
San Jose Earthquakes
Goalkeepers
Angus Gunn
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Vitor Costa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Reid Roberts
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Daniel Munie
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Benjamin Kikanović
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Beau Leroux
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ronaldo Vieira
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nick Fernandez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Timo Werner
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Preston Judd
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ousseni Bouda
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Francesco Montali
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jack Jasinski
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dave Romney
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jamar Ricketts
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Paul Marie
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ian Harkes
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jack Skahan
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Darius Johnson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luka Jovanovic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06/16/2024 | San Jose Earthquakes | 2 - 4 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | PayPal Park |
| 09/10/2022 | FC Cincinnati | 6 - 0 | San Jose Earthquakes | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 05/05/2019 | San Jose Earthquakes | 1 - 0 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Avaya Stadium |
06/16/2024
09/10/2022
05/05/2019
FC Cincinnati Win
San Jose Earthquakes Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 15 GD: +18
P: 13 GD: +11
P: 15 GD: +8
P: 15 GD: +5
P: 16 GD: -9
P: 14 GD: +7
P: 15 GD: +3
P: 14 GD: +2
P: 14 GD: -1
P: 15 GD: -14
P: 14 GD: -1
P: 16 GD: -6
P: 16 GD: -8
P: 13 GD: -5
P: 15 GD: -10
League Standings
| Pos | Team | P | Pts | GF | GA | GD | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville SC | 18 | 40 | 35 | 14 | +21 | |
| 2 | Inter Miami | 18 | 38 | 45 | 32 | +13 | |
| 3 | New England Revolution | 17 | 30 | 28 | 21 | +7 | |
| 4 | Chicago Fire | 17 | 29 | 32 | 23 | +9 | |
| 5 | New York City FC | 18 | 26 | 31 | 24 | +7 | |
| 6 | FC Cincinnati | 18 | 26 | 45 | 44 | +1 | |
| 7 | Charlotte | 18 | 25 | 29 | 27 | +2 | |
| 8 | New York Red Bulls | 18 | 25 | 29 | 39 | -10 | |
| 9 | DC United | 18 | 23 | 26 | 29 | -3 | |
| 10 | Orlando City SC | 18 | 20 | 30 | 47 | -17 | |
| 11 | Columbus Crew | 18 | 20 | 26 | 28 | -2 | |
| 12 | Toronto FC | 18 | 17 | 24 | 32 | -8 | |
| 13 | Philadelphia Union | 18 | 16 | 25 | 33 | -8 | |
| 14 | CF Montreal | 18 | 16 | 24 | 35 | -11 | |
| 15 | Atlanta United FC | 18 | 12 | 19 | 33 | -14 |
P: 18 GD: +21
P: 18 GD: +13
P: 17 GD: +7
P: 17 GD: +9
P: 18 GD: +7
P: 18 GD: +1
P: 18 GD: +2
P: 18 GD: -10
P: 18 GD: -3
P: 18 GD: -17
P: 18 GD: -2
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -8
P: 18 GD: -11
P: 18 GD: -14
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Cincinnati's Offensive Avalanche Buries San Jose
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 57/100. Our verdict: A chaotic six-goal shootout at TQL Stadium proved that FC Cincinnati’s sheer offensive volume can overwhelm even the league's top-tier defensive setups.
Early Fireworks
The game wasted no time finding its chaotic rhythm, delivering an off-the-charts Intensity that set TQL Stadium absolutely ablaze from the opening whistle. FC Cincinnati seized the initiative instantly, dominating possession to the tune of 60 percent and turning the attacking third into their own personal shooting gallery. The visiting Earthquakes, despite entering the match sitting comfortably high in the table, struggled massively to find any structural Balance against the relentless waves of orange and blue forward runs. Luciano Acosta was the engine of this constant pressure, ensuring the home side kept their foot pressed firmly on the gas pedal. San Jose’s defensive line faced immediate and punishing set-piece pressure, forced into desperate clearances as the shot count began to climb at a staggering pace during the first half.
Ruthless Efficiency Meets Volume
The true turning point wasn't a single magical strike, but rather a fascinating clash of opposing tactical philosophies. Cincinnati poured numbers forward without hesitation, launching an incredible 19 shots overall with 11 demanding action from the goalkeeper. But the San Jose Earthquakes refused to roll over and surrender quietly, maximizing every tiny pocket of space they were afforded. Cristian Espinoza and the visiting attack managed a mere two shots on target all night long—and incredibly, both attempts found the back of the net. This ruthless, clinical counter-punching briefly spiked the Upset Factor, making the hometown faithful sweat despite their team's massive expected goals advantage. Yet, Cincinnati’s sheer volume of high-quality chances, generated through a punishing total of nine corners and relentless penalty-box entries, ultimately broke the Earthquakes' stubborn resolve.
Climbing the Ladder
When the referee blew the final whistle on this breathless 4-2 thriller, the structural implications for the season were impossible to ignore. The high Stakes for the hosts were completely obvious all week; sitting down in ninth place, they desperately needed these three points to revive their regular season campaign and spark a legitimate charge up the standings. San Jose’s goalkeeper put on a valiant display with seven crucial saves, but the constant offensive barrage was simply too heavy for one man to withstand indefinitely. Cincinnati's statement victory snaps the Earthquakes' comfortable momentum and loudly announces that the Ohio side possesses the necessary firepower to mount a serious playoff push. It was a defining, momentum-shifting night of soccer played out in front of a completely raucous home crowd.
Key Questions
What caused the 6-goal thriller?
Cincinnati's relentless attack generated 19 shots and nine corners, while San Jose was ruthlessly clinical, scoring on their only two shots on target.
What does this mean for FC Cincinnati's season?
This crucial victory lifts their momentum, proving they can outgun top-tier opposition as they push upward from ninth place in the regular season standings.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Cincinnati Aim to Derail San Jose's Championship Charge
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 79/100. San Jose's title aspirations hang by a thread as they carry terrible momentum into one of the league's most chaotic defensive environments.
The Setup
FC Cincinnati boast a ridiculous attacking output this season, netting 40 goals but conceding just as many. Their strong Form rating contrasts sharply with a crumbling San Jose Earthquakes side. The visitors sit second in the standings but are winless in four matches. With the Stakes running incredibly high in this August 01, 2026 title race clash at TQL Stadium, San Jose desperately needs a result to stay in the championship hunt. The competitive Balance tilts toward the home side purely on momentum and attacking volume.
Key Battle
The transition game will dictate this encounter. Evander is pulling the strings brilliantly for the hosts and ranks exceptionally well on our Stars metric. He goes head-to-head with Preston Judd, who must provide the away side with an outlet to relieve Cincinnati's relentless pressure.
Our Prediction
Cincinnati win. The home side's goalscoring pedigree will overwhelm a San Jose unit currently struggling for answers. Expect a high-scoring affair where the visitors strike early but ultimately collapse under sustained attacking waves.