It hasn’t been often this season that FC Cincinnati have been able to walk away from a draw, that could have been a win and still felt positive in the aftermath of it. Even less so when doing it on the road. It’s been a challenging year for The Orange and Blue and every point earned has come with a fight, and every road match has been a gauntlet to salvage any kind of point cumulation.
So, grinding out a draw in a game that felt like it could have been, or should have been, a loss? That’s great. But every dropped point from positive performances have been agonized over and regretted in the long run.
That is still somewhat the case this Wednesday night, but somewhat less so. Extenuating circumstances made it far more palatable so by the time the full-time whistle blew and the dust had settled on the pitch at Nu Stadium, a 2-2 draw with Inter Miami CF in the final road game of the regular season felt like something you could keep your head high with no matter how close to three points you were.
FC Cincinnati ran the gamut of emotions on Wednesday night and played in every game state they could have. After taking a slow, defensively stout 0-0 draw into halftime, Inter Miami scored first to take a 1-0 lead. FCC, who at times looked like they were unlikely to register another shot, let alone a scoring opportunity, were then hit by a flash of lightning on a shot from Kenji Mboma Dem in the 80’ to equalize the game. Six minutes later FC Cincinnati hit again on the counter, this time from Sami Gidi with his first goal for the club and for the first lead of the game for The Orange and Blue.
Four minutes later though, Miami equalized, and after five long minutes of stoppage time the full-time whistle went. But in the final action before that whistle put an end to the game, FC Cincinnati was thwarted by a brilliant block in the Miami box, thwarting an Evander shot that felt destined for the back of the net. And so after ever so briefly snagging the lead and tasting the possibility of three points, it was ripped away and the draw was confirmed in the end.
“I felt like we could have had three points, but every point is vital in this playoff race. So it's encouraging to be able to get something on the road against a top team, and hopefully we can carry our momentum of getting points throughout those last two games,” Kenji Mboma Dem said from the locker room after the game.
“I'd say it was good, but we are disappointed because we could have got the whole three points,” Sami Gidi said postmatch. “But fortunately, it's still one point, and we are still happy with that. But we just need to move on to the next games.”
It’s a result that, entering the night, you may have felt very comfortable accepting. For FCC, a side who has 1.) struggled on the road, 2.) are near the end of a brutal seven-match swing, in the South Florida heat that -- while more mild than a mid-July day -- was still punishing thanks to the humidity, 3.) playing the league leading offense with 4.) key pieces out injured and 5.) in need of rotation and fresh legs, earning any points would have been acceptable…maybe could have even felt like the best case scenario. But any time the possibility for three points is there with six minutes left, no matter the expectations entering the game, it can feel extra sour.
Postgame Pat Noonan expressed his pride in the team’s efforts given that list of mitigating circumstances, saying, “it's important to pick up points. Like I said, when you're up a goal that late, you want to see better closure. But I think fatigue and just the quality of Miami factors into what the end of the game looks like and feels like. So, it's still at this stage an important point on the road.”
It’s clear that he agreed the three points were missed out on, but the bigger picture made the outcome more stomach-able.
But that’s not only because of the result. There was, too, a performance to be pleased with. And one that adds to a growing string of displays from a now battle tested FC Cincinnati side that they can be proud of.
After finishing the first half with a nil-nil scoreline and then defending for another 16’ before conceding in the second half, FC Cincinnati set their personal best for longest stretch of time without conceding a goal of the season; going four full halves (plus some time on either side of the breaks) without allowing a goal. The streak started in the second half of the first D.C. United match, ran through the clean sheet over the weekend, and into this Miami game.
Now, is 200ish minutes something to hang a banner over or to write home to mother about. It’s not necessarily. FC Cincinnati players and coaches would tell you that stretch should be far more common (if not routine!) in a season.
But in 2026 it hasn’t been, and in 2026 FCC have struggled to string positives together. But now, as the season is ending and the time on the calendar is fading away, this group is now finding more consistent defensive play and giving their team a better chance to win games.
And on this Wednesday night in Miami, they did so against a playoff caliber team. A team they will likely have to face, and beat, likely nonideal circumstances, if they want to go on a run to glory. And Wednesday night FCC showed they have that kind of performance in them.
“Tough game certainly with a very strong opponent,” Noonan said postgame in his opening assessment of the night. “For us, it was trying to find moments where we had time and space to change the tempo and to not be afraid to attack and move up as a group and try to limit their threats in transition…but I think the point is still important, and there were a lot of adjustments in game just based on where guys were at physically and having to protect some guys. I give credit to the guys that were asked to do things all throughout the game that maybe are a little outside of the norm and specific to the group that was on the field."
“We’ve got a good team. The results haven't been good for us, but there's no time to back down now. We just have to keep our heads up,” Gidi added. “We’ve got two games, six points to get, and we need them.”
FC Cincinnati now return home for the final two games of the regular season. One on Saturday afternoon against Philadelphia Union, and the second a week later against 2026 Supporters Shield winners Nashville SC. Both of which are further tests of The Orange and Blue’s metal, and previews for potential playoff matchups. But FCC have to get there first for them to be rematches.
After Wednesday night and Matchday-32 -- when looking at the out-of-town scoreboard -- FCC’s postseason picture didn’t clear up any, but they also didn’t lose anything in terms of controlling their own destiny. They still can confirm their place in the MLS Playoffs with wins but do run the risk of missing the playoffs if they don’t. But the story of FC Cincinnati will now be written in the friendly confines of TQL Stadium, which, Pat Noonan believes is a welcome sign.
“Certainly, we can be disappointed (with a draw) that even though we went down a goal, we come back, score two, and fight there till the end with a really great opportunity,” the Head Coach said Wednesday night. “But now we go home for two games, and…I imagine the guys are going to be up for it and ready to see out the year in front of our home fans in a positive way.”
So FC Cincinnati is coming home with one point instead of three. But if you look just a little deeper, and it doesn’t take that much squinting to see, it becomes clear they are returning to Cincy with more than that.
