FC Cincinnati and FC Dallas battled to a 3-3 tie Wednesday night at TQL Stadium.
The result moves Cincinnati to 9-4-3 (30 points) as the Orange and Blue finish Matchday 16 in second place in the Eastern Conference. Dallas moved to 4-6-5 (17 points).
FC Cincinnati are the first team in MLS History to produce at least 30 points within the first 16 games of a season in three-straight years.
The Orange and Blue return to action Saturday, May 31 to host D.C. United. Kickoff from TQL Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. and tickets remain available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK. The match airs on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Fans can listen to the match locally on iHeart Media ESPN 1530 and in Spanish on La Mega 101.5 FM.
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Pavel Bucha, GOAL – 30’ (1-0) – Luca Orellano moved into the Dallas box from the left wing and sent a cross in towards the back post and DeAndre Yedlin. Yedlin played a first time pass off Orellano’s cross back to the feet of Pavel Bucha who struck with his right, forcing Dallas’ Sebastien Ibeagha to step in to keep the shot out, but the block sent the ball into goal.
CIN: Kévin Denkey, PENALTY GOAL – 42’ (2-0) – Evander played a long, outside of the foot curler into the path of Kévin Denkey, who dribbled around Maarten Paes and forced the goalkeeper into a foul inside the box. Denkey, after drawing the foul, converted into the bottom right corner form the spot.
DAL: Petar Musa, GOAL – 50’ (2-1) – A Dallas pass which caught the foot of Obinna Nwobodo and took a friendly bounce down to the edge of the Cincinnati box was controlled by Shaq Moore and advanced into a more dangerous area. Moore found Petar Musa and, with a close-range effort, sent a shot into the roof of the net.
DAL: Anderson Julio, GOAL – 68’ (2-2) – Dallas opened up a congested midfield after crossing the midfield line with Pedrinho playing a ball into open space deep into the Cincinnati half. Anderson Julio received and put one into the back of the net.
CIN: Gerardo Valenzuela, GOAL – 86’ (3-2) – Lukas Engel continued a Cincinnati attack, holding possession on the left side of the box after receiving a pass from Evander. Engel sent a cross across the face of goal which forced Paes out to deal with it. The second chance came off the foot of Valenzuela who fired off a quick shot that deflected off a defender and into the back of the net.
DAL: Sebastien Ibeagha, GOAL – 90’+2 (3-3) – Dallas earned a point late in second half stoppage time as Sebastien Ibeagha headed in a cross from Patrickson Delgado.
GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati and FC Dallas are level in their all-time series, 1-1-1 in three matchups.
- FC Cincinnati are 14-4-5 against Western Conference opponents in MLS Regular Season play under Head Coach Pat Noonan.
- FC Cincinnati are 16-5-7 on Wednesday under Head Coach Pat Noonan.
- FC Cincinnati are the first team in MLS History to produce at least 30 points within the first 16 games of a season in three-straight years.
- By scoring his 10th goal in all competitions, Pavel Bucha became the 16th player in the club’s all-time history to score 10 goals for the club.
- Bucha scored his first MLS goal of the season, fourth goal in all competitions after three goals scored in the Champions Cup.
- Kévin Denkey has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season, nine of which in MLS play.
- Denkey is 3-for-3 from the penalty spot this season.
- Gerardo Valenzuela continues to extend his career-high in goals to four on the season.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati vs FC Dallas
Date: May 28, 2025
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 24,524
Kickoff: 7:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 69 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
CIN: 2-1-3
DAL: 0-3-3
CIN – Pavel Bucha (Yedlin, Orellano) 30’, Kévin Denkey – PK 42’, Gerardo Valenzuela 86’
DAL – Petar Musa (Moore) 50’, Anderson Julio (Pedrinho) 68’, Sebastien Ibeagha (Delgado, Benetti) 90’+2
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Luca Orellano (Lukas Engel 73’), Gilberto Flores, Miles Robinson (C), Alvas Powell (Teenage Hadebe 73’), DeAndre Yedlin (Corey Baird 84’), Pavel Bucha (Gerardo Valenzuela 73’), Obinna Nwobodo, Evander, Sergio Santos (Kei Kamara 64’), Kévin Denkey
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Brad Smith, Matt Miazga, Tah Brian Anunga
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
DAL: Maarten Paes, Marco Farfan, Sebastien Ibeagha, Osaze Urhoghide (Lalas Abubakar 36’), Shaq Moore, Anderson Julio (Logan Farrington 83’), Ramiro, Bernard Kamungo (Pedrinho 46’), Luciano Acosta (C), Kaick, Petar Musa
Substitutes not used: Michael Collodi, Patrickson Delgado, Katlego Ntsabeleng, Show, Nolan Morris, Diego Garcia
Head Coach: Eric Quill
STATS SUMMARY: CIN/DAL
Shots: 20 / 10
Shots on Goal: 8 / 5
Saves: 2 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 4
Fouls: 8 / 15
Offside: 1 / 0
Possession: 63.9 / 36.1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Alvas Powell (Yellow Card) 2’
DAL – Marco Farfan (Yellow Card) 8’
DAL – Kaick (Yellow Card) 44’
DAL – Petar Musa (Yellow Card) 62’
CIN – Teenage Hadebe (Yellow Card) 78’
CIN – Corey Baird (Yellow Card) 90’+4
OFFICIALS 
Referee: Marcos DeOliveira II
Ast. Referees: Logan Brown, Diego Blas
Fourth Official: Sergii Demianchuk
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
