Major League Soccer Regular Season - 9
New York City FC 4 - 4 FT FC Cincinnati
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
20' N. Mercau
↓ T. Hadebe ↑A. Powell 23'
K. Denkey (E. Echenique) 32'
35' N. Mercau (M. Moralez)
HT
↓ A. Powell ↑A. Chirila 46'
G. Flores 50'
53' A. Ojeda (A. O'Neill)
Evander 57'
↓ E. Echenique ↑G. Valenzuela 60'
↓ G. Flores ↑T. Anunga 60'
K. Denkey (G. Valenzuela) 65'
K. Smith 71'
72' ↓ M. Moralez ↑Talles Magno
72' ↓ H. Wolf ↑K. Parks
79' Talles Magno (A. Ojeda)
↓ T. Barlow ↑A. Jabbari 83'
84' ↓ A. Ojeda ↑J. Shore
84' ↓ N. Mercau ↑A. Farnos
90' ↓ T. Gray ↑S. Tanasijevic
A. Chirila (P. Bucha) 90'+2
Evander 90'+4
T. Anunga 90'+6
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
New York City FC
Goalkeepers
Matthew Freese 
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
4
Conceded
2
Saves
Defenders
Tayvon Gray 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Thiago Martins 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Raul Gustavo 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Kevin O'Toole 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
1
Fouls
5
Rating
Midfielders
Kai Trewin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aiden O'Neill 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Agustin Ojeda 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.9
Rating
Maxi Moralez 
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
1
Assists
29%
Pass Acc
Hannes Wolf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
72
Entry
Forwards
Nicolás Fernández 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
10
Rating
BENCH
Tomás Romero 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Strahinja Tanasijević
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nico Cavallo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Keaton Parks
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonathan Shore
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Máximo Carrizo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Talles Magno 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Arnau Farnos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Seymour Garfield-Reid
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
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Kyle Smith
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gilberto Flores
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
60
Total Mins
60
Entry
Teenage Hadebe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
23
Entry
Midfielders
Ender Echenique
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
12%
Pass Acc
Pavel Bucha
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Samuel Gidi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
98
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kenji Mboma Dem 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Forwards
Evander 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
7.7
Rating
KĂ©vin Denkey
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
8.3
Rating
Tom Barlow
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
BENCH
Evan Louro
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alvas Powell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
46
Entry
Andrei Chirila
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7
Rating
Tah Anunga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
38
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gerardo Valenzuela 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
38
Minutes
6.2
Rating
Stiven Jimenez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ayoub Jabbari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/23/2025 | FC Cincinnati | 0 - 1 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 05/04/2025 | New York City FC | 1 - 0 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Citi Field |
| 11/09/2024 | FC Cincinnati | 0 - 0 (PEN 5-6) | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 11/02/2024 | New York City FC | 3 - 1 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Citi Field |
| 10/28/2024 | FC Cincinnati | 1 - 0 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 10/02/2024 | New York City FC | 3 - 2 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena |
| 08/06/2024 | FC Cincinnati | 4 - 2 | New York City FC | Leagues Cup | TQL Stadium |
| 03/23/2024 | FC Cincinnati | 1 - 0 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 08/26/2023 | FC Cincinnati | 3 - 0 | New York City FC | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 05/31/2023 | New York City FC | 1 - 3 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Yankee Stadium |
08/23/2025
05/04/2025
11/09/2024
11/02/2024
10/28/2024
10/02/2024
08/06/2024
03/23/2024
08/26/2023
05/31/2023
New York City FC Win
FC Cincinnati Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 6 GD: +11
P: 7 GD: +7
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 9 GD: -7
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 5 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 8 GD: -5
P: 5 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: -9
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 6 GD: -1
P: 8 GD: -5
League Standings
P: 10 GD: +15
P: 10 GD: +6
P: 11 GD: +3
P: 10 GD: +8
P: 11 GD: -2
P: 11 GD: -3
P: 11 GD: -1
P: 11 GD: -2
P: 11 GD: +1
P: 11 GD: 0
P: 11 GD: -11
P: 11 GD: -6
P: 11 GD: -16
P: 10 GD: -9
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Eight-Goal Epic: New York and Cincinnati Trade Blows in Bronx Classic
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. An unforgettable eight-goal spectacle at Yankee Stadium provided endless entertainment as both sides traded relentless attacking blows.
The Opening Salvo
The Intensity was absolutely off the charts from the opening whistle at Yankee Stadium, setting the stage for an all-time classic. New York City FC took early command of the match when Nicolás Fernández struck a beautiful opener in the 20th minute. However, the visitors refused to be intimidated and struck back swiftly. Kévin Denkey finished a clinical move to level the score, sparking a wildly entertaining 15-minute goal flurry. Just three minutes after the equalizer, Fernández restored the hosts' advantage with his second goal of the night, securing a vital hero's brace. The home side edged possession with 56% of the ball in these frantic early stages, stringing together 458 accurate passes to keep the pressure mounting on a stretched visiting defense.
The Pendulum Swings
After the halftime break, the Balance of the match shifted back and forth with dizzying speed. Agustin Ojeda extended the lead for the home side to 3-1, but the opposition was not ready to surrender. A tightly contested VAR decision saw an Evander goal disallowed for a foul, which could have killed their momentum. Instead, Denkey stepped up once again to grab his own brace and close the gap. The sheer volume of chances—a staggering 29 total shots attempted between the two sides—turned the field into an absolute shooting gallery. Seeking fresh legs to secure the result, the hosts brought on Talles Magno. The substitute made an instant impact by finding the net in the 79th minute, seemingly putting the match out of reach.
Stoppage-Time Drama
The Stakes reached a breathtaking boiling point during the dying moments of the match. Trailing by two goals in stoppage time, FC Cincinnati engineered one of the most miraculous late surges of the season. Substitute A. Chirila sparked life into the away section with a crucial 92nd-minute strike. With the Upset factor looming heavily over the stadium, pure chaos ensued in the penalty area just seconds later, resulting in a dramatic 94th-minute spot-kick. Evander kept his nerve amid the deafening noise, burying the penalty to cap off an unbelievable sequence. Four agonizing lead changes, late heroics from the bench, and a final 4-4 scoreline left supporters completely breathless in this unforgettable MLS regular season showdown.
Key Questions
What made Nicolás Fernández the Man of the Match?
He was brilliant, scoring an essential brace in the first half and serving as a constant attacking threat that pushed his team forward.
What caused the 8-goal thriller?
A staggering 29 total shots, relentless attacking urgency from both sides, and dramatic late defensive lapses created the perfect storm for an eight-goal classic.
How did New York City FC complete the comeback from behind?
Although they never trailed, New York City FC showed incredible resolve by repeatedly retaking the lead whenever Cincinnati pushed back, dictating the game's chaotic tempo.
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.
Defenses Vulnerable as the Eastern Conference Heats Up
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 46/100. With both backlines leaking goals at an alarming rate, this clash promises to be an unpredictable, high-scoring shootout.
The Setup
The New York City FC attack has been firing on all cylinders at Yankee Stadium, averaging a staggering 3.5 goals per game. However, a modest Form rating indicates their defense remains a serious liability. FC Cincinnati arrive with an away record conceding nearly four goals a match, meaning the Balance of this fixture tilts heavily toward the attackers. While early-season Stakes keep the pressure relatively low, the sheer volume of expected chances makes this a must-watch. Our take is that the Stars rating is off the charts, driven by the playmaking of Maxi Moralez for the hosts and the dynamic presence of K. Denkey for the visitors.
Key Battle
This match will be decided by which porous defensive unit breaks first. The home side's high-pressing forward line will relentlessly test a visiting backline that has consistently struggled to track runners away from home. Whichever midfield can control the chaos and string together incisive passes will dictate the tempo.
Our Prediction
Expect a chaotic thriller on April 22, 2026. The hosts should edge it 3-2 by overwhelming the visitors in the second half, leaning on their superior home firepower to mask their own defensive frailties.