FC Cincinnati defeated Red Bull New York, 2-0, in front of a sold-out crowd at TQL Stadium Saturday night. The Orange and Blue (3-4-3, 12 points) pick up three points for the first time since March 22 against CF Montréal and are unbeaten over their last four matches.
Kévin Denkey scored two goals for the second straight match, becoming the fourth player in FC Cincinnati history with back-to-back multi-goal games. Denkey scored in the 40th minute from open play and again from the spot with the last kick of the first half.
Denkey now has six league goals this season, 10 across all competitions, and is tied for the sixth most goals in the league through Matchday 10.
The Orange and Blue kept New York off the scoresheet to earn their second clean sheet of the MLS season and fourth across all competitions. It is the first time since March 8 that Red Bull has been held scoreless in a match.
FC Cincinnati are back on the road for their next league match when they take on Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, May 2, at Soldier Field at 8:30 p.m. ET. The match will air live on Apple TV.
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Kévin Denkey, GOAL – 40’ (1-0) – Gerardo Valenzuela played an aggressive cross-field through ball up the right wing. Pavel Bucha collected and navigated around a defender and drawing attention of the rest of the Red Bull defense. Bucha found Denkey at the far post who finished from close range.
CIN: Kévin Denkey, PENALTY KICK GOAL – 45’+5 (2-0) – Denkey converted from the penalty spot after Evander was tripped up in the box.
GAME NOTES
- The Orange & Blue improve to 3-1-1 at TQL Stadium in MLS play this year.
- Cincy has evened the all-time series 8-8-5 against Red Bull, winning three of the last four meetings dating back to last season.
- Kevin Denkey recorded his second brace this week in as many matches. It’s his third multi-goal effort across all competitions this year and the fourth of his FCC career.
- Denkey now has 11 game-winning goals for FC Cincinnati, tying Luciano Acosta for the most in club history.
- It’s the second time in club history the Orange & Blue have converted a penalty kick goal in 3 consecutive matches (2023: 7/9 at CLT, 7/12 vs RBNY, 7/15 vs NSH).
- Roman Celentano picked up his 46th career clean sheet, his first since a season-opening 2-0 win at home over Atlanta United FC on February 21.
- Ayoub Lajhar made his MLS debut as a 79th minute substitute. It was the defender’s second career appearance with FC Cincinnati’s first team (2/25/26 vs O&M, Concacaf Champions Cup).
- Saturday marked the 54th all-time sellout of TQL Stadium for an FC Cincinnati match.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs Red Bull New YorkÂ
Date: April 25, 2026
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 72 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
CIN: 2-0-2
RBNY: 0-0-0
CIN – Kévin Denkey (Bucha, Valenzuela) 40’, Kévin Denkey (PK) 45’+5
RBNY – None
LINEUPSÂ
CIN: Roman Celentano, Samuel Gidi, Andrei Chirila, Kyle Smith (Gilberto Flores 89’), Bryan RamÃrez (Ayoub Lajhar, 79’), Tah Brian Anunga, Gerardo Valenzuela, Pavel Bucha (Ender Echenique 61’), Evander (C), Kévin Denkey (Ayoub Jabbari 79’), Kenji Mboma Dem (Tom Barlow 61’)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Stefan Chirila, Stiven Jimenez, Fabian Mrozek
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
RBNY: Ethan Horvath, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Dylan Nealis (C), Joyeux Masanka Bungi (Matthew Dos Santos 46’), Tim Parker, Gustav Berggen (Emil Forsberg 62’), Adri Mehmeti, Ronald Donkor (Nehuén Benedetti 85’), Julian Zakrzewski, Mohammed Sofo (Jorge Ruvalcaba 62’), Cade Cowell (Rafael Mosquera 73’)
Substitutes not used: John McCarthy, Robert Voloder, Juan Mina
Head Coach: Michael Bradley
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/RBNY
Shots: 15 / 20
Shots on Goal: 5 / 6
Saves: 6 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 7
Fouls: 10 / 15
Offside: 0 / 0
Possession: 51.9 / 48.1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
RBNY – Joyeux Masanka Bungi (Yellow Card) 19’
CIN – Bryan RamÃrez (Yellow Card) 31’
RBNY – Adri Mehmeti (Yellow Card) 78’
Â
OFFICIALS
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Ast. Referees: Felisha Mariscal, Mike Nickerson
Fourth Official: Edson CarvajalÂ
VAR: Michael RadchukÂ
AVAR: Kevin Huet