RECAP | FC Cincinnati 1, Philadelphia Union 0

FC Cincinnati clinched a berth in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 1-0 win against Philadelphia Union Saturday afternoon at TQL Stadium.

The Orange and Blue will take part in postseason soccer for a fifth consecutive season, with final seeding to be determined following next Saturday’s final regular season matchday on Decision Day. For more, including ticketing information, visit FCCincinnati.com/Playoffs.

The Orange and Blue (12-11-10, 46 points) have won three of their last four matches while the Union (13-12-8, 47 points) suffered just their second loss since the FIFA World Cup break.

Cincy and Philly were in a scoreless deadlock until the 70th minute, when Ayoub Jabbari scored the decisive goal. It was his third of the MLS season and fifth since joining the club late last season.

Roman Celentano made six saves, as he kept his fourth clean sheet of the season.

The Orange and Blue are back at home next Saturday, November 7 to take on Supporters’ Shield winners Nashville SC on Decision Day. Kickoff for Fan Appreciation Day at TQL Stadium is set for 4 p.m. ET and tickets remain available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK.

AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Ayoub Jabbari, GOAL - 70' (1-0) - Ayoub Jabbari wasted little time making his mark after entering the match just six minutes prior. Evander, who came on as a substitute out of halftime, ripped a shot just inside the box and forced Andre Blake to make a diving save to his left, where Jabbari crashed on the second-chance opportunity and tapped it in to give Cincy the lead.

GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati are 6-5-2 across all competitions against Philadelphia Union under Head Coach Pat Noonan. Saturday’s win snapped a three-match skid against Philadelphia.
- Ayoub Jabbari now has scored five goals this season in all competitions, all of which he scored as a substitute. He is one goal shy of the club record goals scored by a substitute.
- Roman Celentano kept his fourth clean sheet of the season, his 49th of his FC Cincinnati career.
- FC Cincinnati are 27-12-13 in matches on two-days rest under Head Coach Pat Noonan.
- Cincy are 9-4-3 at TQL Stadium during the 2026 MLS Regular Season.
- Nick Hagglund captained FC Cincinnati's Starting XI for the sixth time in his career, the first since August 7, 2025 against Chivas Guadalajara in Leagues Cup competition.

FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs Philadelphia Union
Date: October 31, 2026
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 24,013
Kickoff: 2:10 p.m. ET
Weather: 65 degrees, clear

SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
CIN: 0-1-1
PHI: 0-0-0

CIN – Ayoub Jabbari 70’
PHI – None

LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Bryan Ramirez, Teenage Hadebe (Alvas Powell 80’), Nick Hagglund (C), Kyle Smith, Kenji Mboma Dem (Ender Echenique 64’), Samuel Gidi (Evander 46’), Obinna Nwobodo, Pavel Bucha, Tom Barlow (Ayoub Jabbari 64’), Kévin Denkey (Tah Brian Anunga 88’)

Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Gerardo Valenzuela, Andrei Chirila, José Martínez

Head Coach: Pat Noonan

PHI: Andre Blake (C), Kai Wagner, Nathan Harriel, Niel Pierre, Francis Westfield, Ben Bender (Jesús Bueno 60’), Jovan Lukic (Malik Jakupovic 90’), Indiana Vassilev (Agustín Anello 74’), Quinn Sullivan, Bruno Damiani, Ezekiel Alladoh (Cavan Sullivan 60’)

Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Jeremy Rafanello, Jordan Griffin, Finn Sundstrom, Geiner Martínez

Interim Head Coach: Ryan Richter

STATS SUMMARY: CIN/PHI
Shots: 7 / 15
Shots on Goal: 3 / 4
Saves: 6 / 2
Corner Kicks: 3 / 12
Fouls: 11 / 4
Offside: 0 / 2
Possession: 56.9 / 43.1

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
None

OFFICIALS 
Referee: Allen Chapman
Ast. Referees: Lyes Arfa, Meghan Mullen
Fourth Official: Marcos DeOliveira II
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
AVAR: TJ Zablocki

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