Major League Soccer Regular Season - 3

FC Cincinnati 0 - 1 FT Toronto FC

TQL Stadium

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
34
FT
Sun, Mar 8
FC Cincinnati
0-1
Toronto FC
⚡ Intensity 25
⚖️ Balance 20
🏆 Stakes 44
🎲 Upset 60
Salloi's late strike stuns Cincinnati.

Late Salloi Strike Stuns Cincinnati in First Leg

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 34/100. Toronto FC engineered a classic away smash-and-grab at TQL Stadium, stealing a late advantage in this crucial first leg tie.

Early Pressure at TQL

The atmosphere at TQL Stadium was electric as FC Cincinnati immediately looked to establish dominance in front of their home supporters. The hosts controlled possession, holding the ball for long stretches and systematically attempting to break down the Canadian visitors. The Intensity of the opening exchanges was palpable, with both sides eager to draw first blood in the tie. Cincinnati dictated the tempo, leaning on their structural discipline, while Miles Robinson anchored the backline to suppress any early counter-attacks. A barrage of early attempts set the tone, contributing to a match that would eventually see 25 combined shots. Despite the home side generating solid pressure and racking up corner kicks, they struggled to find the clinical edge needed in the final third. The opening act became a fascinating tactical chess match.

Defensive Resilience

As the second half unfolded, the true narrative shifted toward defensive heroics. Toronto FC found themselves absorbing waves of pressure, yet the Balance of genuine scoring opportunities remained deceptively tight. The visitors relied heavily on their goalkeeper, Luka Gavran, who delivered an outstanding performance between the posts. His critical saves frustrated the Cincinnati attackers and provided a foundation of confidence for his hard-working defenders. In front of him, Zane Monlouis was a rock, disrupting passing lanes and clearing dangerous balls out of the penalty area. The sheer volume of corner pressure from the hosts tested Toronto's resolve, but the backline completely refused to buckle under the weight. The longer the match remained scoreless, the more the momentum subtly began to drift away from the home side.

The Late Breakthrough

The climactic moment arrived just as the match seemed destined for a gritty stalemate. In the 86th minute, D. Salloi delivered the devastating blow, breaking the deadlock with a clinical finish after a brilliantly timed sequence involving R. Laryea. This late winner completely flipped the script, securing a massive Upset on the road against the run of play. The result sends shockwaves through the matchup, fundamentally altering the trajectory of the series. With the high Stakes of knockout survival on the line, Toronto now holds the precious advantage. Cincinnati will be left ruing their missed opportunities and lack of ruthlessness. The battle now moves north of the border, where Toronto will host the decisive second leg on April 11.

Key Questions

How dramatic was the late winner by Luka Gavran?

While Luka Gavran was the defensive hero with crucial saves, it was actually D. Salloi who scored the dramatic 86th-minute winner to seal the game.

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.

Match Statistics

Possession
57%
43%
FC Cincinnati 57%
Toronto FC 43%
Shots
14
11
FC Cincinnati 14
Toronto FC 11
Shots on Target
2
5
FC Cincinnati 2
Toronto FC 5
Expected Goals (xG)
0.76
0.69
FC Cincinnati 0.76
Toronto FC 0.69
Passes
451
339
FC Cincinnati 451
Toronto FC 339
Pass Accuracy
86%
77%
FC Cincinnati 86%
Toronto FC 77%
Corners
8
7
FC Cincinnati 8
Toronto FC 7
Fouls
14
11
FC Cincinnati 14
Toronto FC 11
Yellow Cards
2
2
FC Cincinnati 2
Toronto FC 2
Red Cards
0
0
FC Cincinnati 0
Toronto FC 0

Match Events

16' 🟨 Ender Echenique
HT
63' 🔄 T. Barlow A. Jabbari
63' 🔄 G. Valenzuela S. Gidi
R. Edwards D. Etienne 🔄 65'
José Cifuentes 🟨 73'
W. Zimmerman L. Stefanovic 🔄 73'
E. Aristizabal D. Kerr 🔄 73'
74' 🔄 E. Echenique Evander
81' 🟨 Nick Hagglund
86' 🔄 G. Flores T. Hadebe
D. Salloi (R. Laryea) 86'
87' 🔄 N. Hagglund K. Smith
90' 🔄 B. J. Ramirez Leon K. Mboma
D. Mihailovic A. Coello 🔄 90'+1
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

FC Cincinnati

Goalkeepers
R. Celentano
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
N. Hagglund
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
M. Robinson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Flores
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
E. Echenique
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
16%
Pass Acc
P. Bucha
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
O. Nwobodo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Valenzuela
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
B. J. Ramirez Leon
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
T. Barlow
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
K. Denkey
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
E. Louro
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
T. Hadebe
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Powell
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Smith
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Anunga
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Evander
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Gidi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
35
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Jabbari
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
35
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Mboma
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Toronto FC

Goalkeepers
L. Gavran
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Z. Monlouis
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
57%
Duel Win %
W. Zimmerman
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
70%
Duel Win %
B. Kuscevic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
R. Laryea
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
5
Fouls Won
5
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
J. Cifuentes
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Osorio
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Edwards
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Forwards
D. Mihailovic
NPC
NPC
91
Minutes
91
Minutes
27%
Pass Acc
6.6
Rating
D. Salloi
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
86
Goal Time
86
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
E. Aristizabal
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
73
Total Mins
73
Entry
BENCH
W. Yarbrough
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
K. Franklin
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Stefanovic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Thompson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Cimermancic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Coello
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Henry
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Etienne
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Kerr
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
03/08/2026 FC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC Major League Soccer TQL Stadium
05/14/2025 Toronto FC 0 - 1 FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer BMO Field
03/09/2025 FC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Toronto FC Major League Soccer TQL Stadium
05/25/2024 Toronto FC 3 - 4 FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer BMO Field
02/25/2024 FC Cincinnati 0 - 0 Toronto FC Major League Soccer TQL Stadium
09/30/2023 Toronto FC 2 - 3 FC Cincinnati Major League Soccer BMO Field
03/08/2026
Major League Soccer TQL Stadium
05/14/2025
Major League Soccer BMO Field
03/09/2025
Major League Soccer TQL Stadium
05/25/2024
Major League Soccer BMO Field
02/25/2024
Major League Soccer TQL Stadium
09/30/2023
Major League Soccer BMO Field
FC Cincinnati Win
Toronto FC Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 New York City FC 2 6 7 1 +6 WNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)WPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)
2 Inter Miami 2 6 6 3 +3 WDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)
3 New York Red Bulls 3 6 3 4 -1 LNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)WNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)WOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)
4 Chicago Fire 2 4 3 0 +3 DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)WChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
5 Nashville SC 1 3 4 1 +3 WNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
6 FC Cincinnati 2 3 2 1 +1 LFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)WFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
7 Toronto FC 1 3 1 0 +1 WFC Cincinnati 0 - 1 Toronto FC (08-03-2026)
8 CF Montreal 2 3 3 3 0 WNew York Red Bulls 0 - 3 CF Montreal (08-03-2026)LChicago Fire 3 - 0 CF Montreal (28-02-2026)
9 DC United 2 3 2 2 0 LDC United 1 - 2 Inter Miami (07-03-2026)WDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
10 Columbus Crew 1 1 0 0 0 DColumbus Crew 0 - 0 Chicago Fire (08-03-2026)
11 Philadelphia Union 2 0 1 3 -2 LPhiladelphia Union 1 - 2 New York City FC (01-03-2026)LDC United 1 - 0 Philadelphia Union (22-02-2026)
12 Atlanta United FC 1 0 0 2 -2 LFC Cincinnati 2 - 0 Atlanta United FC (21-02-2026)
13 New England Revolution 2 0 1 5 -4 LNew York Red Bulls 1 - 0 New England Revolution (28-02-2026)LNashville SC 4 - 1 New England Revolution (22-02-2026)
14 Orlando City SC 3 0 3 11 -8 LNew York City FC 5 - 0 Orlando City SC (07-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 2 - 4 Inter Miami (02-03-2026)LOrlando City SC 1 - 2 New York Red Bulls (22-02-2026)