Major League Soccer Gameweek 2
Minnesota United FC 1 - 0 FT FC Cincinnati
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
59' Morris Duggan
66' K. Yeboah
↓ G. Valenzuela ↑O. Nwobodo 69'
↓ A. Jabbari ↑T. Barlow 69'
76' ↓ M. Boxall ↑D. Padelford
↓ N. Hagglund ↑A. Powell 85'
↓ E. Echenique ↑K. Mboma 85'
90'+1 ↓ B. Hlongwane ↑D. Taylor
90'+1 ↓ N. Triantis ↑O. Gene
90'+6 Jefferson Díaz
↓ S. Gidi ↑T. Anunga 90'+7
↓ T. Hadebe ↑G. Flores 90'+7
90'+7 ↓ K. Yeboah ↑M. Dieng
90'+9 ↓ T. Chancalay ↑J. Gressel
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Minnesota United FC
Goalkeepers
Drake Callender 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jefferson Díaz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Michael Boxall
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
76
Entry
Morris Duggan 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
54%
Duel Win %
Anthony Markanich 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
28%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Bongokuhle Hlongwane
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
15%
Pass Acc
Nectarios Triantis 
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Wil Trapp
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Joaquín Pereyra 
MAGNET
58
Activity
58
Activity
39
Passes
19
Duels
Kelvin Yeboah 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Tomás Chancalay
MAGNET
53
Activity
53
Activity
37
Passes
16
Duels
BENCH
Alec Smir 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Devin Padelford
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
DJ Taylor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Carlos Harvey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Julian Gressel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
James Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Owen Gene
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mamadou Dieng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Troy Putt
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
FC Cincinnati
Goalkeepers
Roman Celentano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Nick Hagglund
LATE SHIFT
5
Late Mins
5
Late Mins
85
Total Mins
85
Entry
Miles Robinson
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
60%
Duel Win %
Teenage Hadebe
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
Ender Echenique
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Pavel Bucha
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Samuel Gidi 
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
32%
Pass Acc
6.6
Rating
Gerardo Valenzuela
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
21%
Pass Acc
Bryan Ramírez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Ayoub Jabbari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Kévin Denkey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Evan Louro
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alvas Powell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gilberto Flores
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyle Smith
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Obinna Nwobodo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Brian Anunga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Stiven Jimenez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tom Barlow
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kenji Mboma Dem
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/19/2024 | Minnesota United FC | 1 - 2 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Allianz Field |
| 05/08/2022 | Minnesota United FC | 0 - 1 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Allianz Field |
| 10/25/2020 | FC Cincinnati | 0 - 1 | Minnesota United FC | Major League Soccer | Nippert Stadium |
| 10/04/2020 | Minnesota United FC | 2 - 0 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Allianz Field |
| 06/29/2019 | Minnesota United FC | 7 - 1 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Allianz Field |
| 06/06/2018 | FC Cincinnati | 0 - 0 (PEN 1-3) | Minnesota United FC | US Open Cup | Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio) |
09/19/2024
05/08/2022
10/25/2020
10/04/2020
06/29/2019
06/06/2018
Minnesota United FC Win
FC Cincinnati Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 1 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 1 GD: -3
League Standings
P: 29 GD: +31
P: 29 GD: +16
P: 29 GD: +8
P: 29 GD: +10
P: 29 GD: +2
P: 30 GD: +15
P: 29 GD: +2
P: 30 GD: -9
P: 29 GD: 0
P: 29 GD: -5
P: 29 GD: -5
P: 29 GD: -3
P: 29 GD: -9
P: 29 GD: -17
P: 29 GD: -37
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Minnesota United FC
FC Cincinnati
Minnesota United FC
FC Cincinnati
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Yeboah Strike Rewards Loons' Resilience at Allianz Field
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 23/100. Minnesota United flipped the script against a technically superior Cincinnati side, proving that grit and transition play often outshine pure possession in the early MLS campaign.
Battling for Footing
The early stages at Allianz Field set a demanding tone, driven by a high Intensity that saw both sides eager to establish dominance. FC Cincinnati controlled possession at 55%, dictating the tempo through the midfield and testing the home defense early. Yet, for all their territorial control and a barrage of 12 corners, the visitors struggled to find a clinical edge, generating just 0.84 expected goals. Minnesota United FC opted for a more direct approach, relying heavily on transition play to exploit the spaces left behind. Joaquín Pereyra was instrumental in these counter-punches, orchestrating the home side's attacks with exceptional vision and precision. Despite an eventual 29 combined shots in this contest, remarkable goalkeeper heroics at both ends kept the scoresheet stubbornly clean through the opening hour, frustrating both attacking lines.
The Decisive Moment
The match hung in a delicate Balance until the 66th minute, when the hosts finally cracked the Cincinnati code. Capitalizing on a rapid sequence, K. Yeboah found a crucial pocket of space inside the penalty area and delivered the lethal blow. It was a clinical finish that completely altered the tactical trajectory of the evening, rewarding Minnesota's superior 1.92 expected goals tally. Cincinnati's defensive anchor, Miles Robinson, had been virtually impassable until that singular lapse, demonstrating how quickly the Stakes can shift in a fiercely contested MLS encounter. The opening goal immediately forced the visitors to abandon their previously measured buildup play, pushing numbers forward in a frantic search for an equalizer and consequently leaving themselves exposed to further counter-attacks at the back.
Weathering the Storm
Trailing by a goal, Cincinnati threw everything forward in the closing stages, dialing up the Upset factor as they effectively camped in Minnesota's defensive third. The final twenty minutes turned into an absolute siege, with the visitors accumulating set-pieces and relentlessly pumping crosses into the danger zone. However, Minnesota's defensive block held firm under immense pressure, showing remarkable tactical organization to protect their hard-earned, slender lead. The vital 1-0 victory provides a massive morale boost for the Loons, pulling them to five points and stabilizing their early-season form. For Cincinnati, the frustrating inability to convert sustained possession and heavy corner pressure into tangible goals serves as a harsh lesson, leaving them to ponder a host of missed opportunities on their long flight back to Ohio.
Key Questions
Who scored the decisive goal?
K. Yeboah secured the victory for Minnesota United with a clinical strike in the 66th minute.
Who were the standout performers?
Joaquín Pereyra masterminded Minnesota's attacking transitions, while Miles Robinson was a defensive rock for Cincinnati despite the narrow loss.
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.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Early Season Desperation as Minnesota Hosts Cincinnati
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 43/100. Both sides are bleeding goals and desperate for traction, making this an unpredictable and highly volatile early-season clash.
The Setup
Minnesota United welcome FC Cincinnati to Allianz Field on February 28, 2026, with both clubs languishing in the lower half of the table after a turbulent start. A poor Form rating reflects their mutual struggles; both backlines have been disastrous, conceding 11 times each in just five outings. The Balance score is off the charts, highlighting just how evenly matched these two underperforming sides are at this exact moment. While Stakes are tempered by the early point in the regular season, the pressure is mounting to stop the rot. Cincinnati brings serious Stars firepower through Evander and K. Denkey, but Minnesota will rely heavily on goalkeeper Drake Callender, who has been working overtime with four saves per game just to keep his vulnerable defense afloat.
Key Battle
Morris Duggan vs Nick Hagglund. Duggan needs to marshal a fragile home backline against Hagglund, who arrives full of confidence and poses a massive physical threat whenever he pushes forward into the penalty area.
Our Prediction
Minnesota United 2-2 FC Cincinnati. The hosts are slight favorites on paper, but with both defenses looking completely porous and prone to errors, expect an end-to-end shootout where neither side can hold a lead.