FC Cincinnati rallied from a two-goal second half deficit to draw with Chicago Fire FC, 3-3, on Saturday night at TQL Stadium. The Orange and Blue (2-4-2, 8 points) earned a point for the second consecutive week.
Tom Barlow registered Cincinnati’s first goal of the night, his fifth goal across all competitions since joining the club prior to this season. The former Fire forward made 50 MLS appearances for Chicago between 2024 and 2025 before signing with Cincinnati in January.
Evander scored his first goal of the season on a 79th minute penalty kick. Evander, who registered his 43rd career MLS goal, is now tied with Wélton for the most goals scored by a Brazilian in MLS history. A late Chicago own goal closed out the scoring on the night and earned Cincinnati a point.
The Orange and Blue’s next match is a midweek meeting against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, April 22. Kickoff from New York is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The match will air live on Apple TV.
AS IT HAPPENED
CHI: Hugo Cuypers, GOAL – 26’ (0-1) – A turnover on the edge of Cincy’s defensive third created a quick transition chance for the visitors, with Cuypers converting the volley from just inside the penalty box.
CIN: Tom Barlow, GOAL – 42’ (1-1) – The Orange & Blue attack intensified trailing by one goal in search of an equalizer. Bryan Ramírez beat two defenders into the box and fired a shot off the right side of the Chicago keeper, then Barlow was left all alone to bury home the rebound from point-blank range.
CHI: Philip Zinckernagel, PENALTY KICK GOAL – 45’+5 (1-2) – A foul from Samuel Gidi inside the box gave Chicago a penalty attempt toward the end of stoppage time. Zinckernagel stepped up and delivered the go-ahead score with his second goal contribution of the first half.
CHI: Hugo Cuypers, GOAL – 48’ (1-3) – A shot deflected up in the air off the back of Miles Robinson to Cuypers, who waited patiently under it before sending a one-time finish toward the far post for his second goal of the match.
CIN: Evander, PENALTY KICK GOAL – 79’ (2-3) – After coming on as a substitute, Gerardo Valenzuela was pulled down by a defender inside the box to draw a foul and set up a penalty chance. Evander delivered to pull FCC within one goal, floating a chipped ball over the goalkeeper’s hands and under the crossbar.
CIN: Dje D’Avilla, OWN GOAL – 86’ (3-3) – Cincinnati tied Chicago when Evander’s set piece was lofted into the box. As both teams ran toward goal, the ball floated past Samuel Gidi’s head and deflected off Dje D’Avilla’s right shin, sneaking into the back of the net.
GAME NOTES
- The Orange & Blue improved to 4-1-1 at TQL Stadium in 2026, including 2-1-1 in MLS play.
- Cincinnati is 7-4-4 all-time against Chicago in MLS play and 8-4-6 across all competitions.
- Kenji Mboma Dem earned his first career MLS regular season start tonight. It was his third career start across all competitions (8/7/25 vs Chivas, Leagues Cup; 2/25/26 vs O&M FC, Concacaf Champions Cup) for the Orange and Blue.
- Tom Barlow recorded his first appearance, start and goal scored against his former club since leaving Chicago for Cincinnati in January.
- Evander has now totaled 43 career goal contributions for Cincy, which ties him with Emmanuel Ledesma for fourth place on the club’s all-time list.
-Evander’s goal marked his 23rd goal for FC Cincinnati, passing Danni König and Emmanuel Ledesma (22) and moving into fifth on FC Cincinnati’s all-time goalscorers list.
- In just three appearances against Chicago since joining Cincinnati, Evander has five goal contributions - 4 goals, 1 assist - which is the second most all-time for an FCC player against the Fire.
- Saturday marked the 53rd all-time sellout of TQL Stadium for an FC Cincinnati match.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs Chicago Fire FC
Date: April 18, 2026
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 25,513 (sellout)
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 53 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
CIN: 1-2-3
CHI: 2-1-3
CIN – Tom Barlow 42’, Evander (PK) 79’, Dje D’Avilla (OG) 86’
CHI – Hugo Cuypers (Zinckernagel) 26’, Philip Zinckernagel (PK) 45’+5, Hugo Cuypers 48’
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Gilberto Flores (Teenage Hadebe 46’), Nick Hagglund, Miles Robinson (C) (Alvas Powell 64’), Samuel Gidi, Pavel Bucha, Tom Barlow (Ayoub Jabbari 70’), Kenji Mboma Dem (Kyle Smith 85’), Evander, Bryan Ramírez, Ender Echenique (Gerardo Valenzuela 70’)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Brian Anunga
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
CHI: Chris Brady, Jack Elliott (C), Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Andrew Gutman, Johnny Dean (Dylan Borso 83’), Anton Salétros, Robin Lod (Puso Dithejane 83’), Dje D’Avilla, Maren Haile-Selassie (Viktor Radojević 90’+4), Hugo Cuypers, Philip Zinckernagel (Joel Waterman 73’)
Substitutes not used: Jason Shokalook, Mauricio Pineda, David Poreba, Sergio Oregel Jr., Josh Cohen
Head Coach: Gregg Berhalter
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/CHI
Shots: 23 / 18
Shots on Goal: 10/ 6
Saves: 3 / 8
Corner Kicks: 9/1
Fouls: 11 / 9
Offside: 1 / 0
Possession: 52.7 /46.1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Samuel Gidi (Yellow Card) 7’
CIN – Tom Barlow (Yellow Card) 11’
CIN – Bryan Ramírez (Yellow Card) 90’
CIN – Pavel Bucha (Yellow Card) 90’
CHI – Dylan Borso (Yellow Card) 90’
CHI – Jack Elliott (Yellow Card) 90’+9
CHI – Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Yellow Card) 90’+9
OFFICIALS
Referee: Malik Badawi
Ast. Referees: Justin Howard, Matthew Nelson
Fourth Official: Rosendo Mendoza
VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.
AVAR: TJ Zablocki
