FC Cincinnati and San Diego FC played to a 3-3 draw Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium in the first-ever meeting between the sides. Two stoppage time goals, including an initial 90’+6 go-ahead goal from San Diego and Tom Barlow’s 90’+8 equalizer in the match’s final moments capped the six-goal fixture.
Cincinnati (4-5-5, 17 points) head home next Saturday, May 23 to host Orlando City SC in the final match before the pause for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. San Diego FC (4-5-5, 17 points) hold an identical record to FCC following the draw.
The Orange and Blue opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Kenji Mboma Dem netted his second career MLS goal. The hosts answered back in the 32nd minute with Marcus Ingvartsen’s first goal of the night.
Halftime substitute Tom Barlow sent FC Cincinnati ahead in the 50th minute. After Evander nearly scored on a free kick which was saved out for a corner kick, the Brazilian delivered in the ensuing corner kick which Barlow stabbed home unmarked in the box.
San Diego FC equalized again with Amahl Pellegrino scoring in the 66th minute, and with six minutes added in stoppage time, the hosts went ahead in the 90’+6 after Marcus Ingvartsen scored his second of the night. On the ensuing restart with seconds remaining, Samuel Gidi sent a long ball into the box which substitute Ayoub Jabbari headed down for Tom Barlow all alone to tuck home the equalizer.
Barlow’s second goal at 90’+8 marked the latest equalizer in an MLS Regular Season match in club history.
FC Cincinnati are back at TQL Stadium next Saturday, May 23 to host Orlando City SC in the final match before the pause for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Tickets are available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling 513-977-KICK.
AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Kenji Mboma Dem, GOAL – 11’ (0-1) – FC Cincinnati countered out of pressure in the back to perfection, with Matt Miazga finding Gerardo Valenzuela in the midfield who chested the ball down to Evander in the midfield circle. After the Brazilian controlled in the midfield, he picked out a darting Kenji Mboma Dem down the left side who took a pair of touches before finishing home his second goal of the MLS season.
SD: Marcus Ingvartsen, GOAL – 32’ (1-1) – San Diego built out of the back for their opener as well, with Onni Valakari finding Kieran Sargeant down the left side who played a low cross into the box where Marcus Ingvartsen tucked home his 10th goal of the season.
CIN: Tom Barlow, GOAL – 50’ (1-2) – Directly off a corner kick, Evander placed a ball into the six-yard box for Tom Barlow to tap home his third MLS goal of the season.
SD: Amahl Pellegrino, GOAL – 66 (2-2) – Pedro Somo’s ball broke though Cincinnati’s backline and found Amahl Pellegrino streaking in who finished a breakaway chance.
SD: Marcus Ingvartsen, GOAL – 90’+6 (3-2) – San Diego won possession with 30 seconds left in stoppage time as Marcus Ingvartsen broke through down the right side. He scored his 11th goal of the campaign with a shot across the goal past the fingertips of Roman Celentano.
CIN: Tom Barlow, GOAL – 90’+8 (3-3) – In the final opportunity for Cincinnati, Samuel Gidi at the midfield line played a long ball into the box. Ayoub Jabbari outdueled two San Diego defenders to place a perfectly-weighed header down for Tom Barlow who tucked home the late equalizer.
GAME NOTES
- Tom Barlow’s 90’+8 goal is the latest equalizer in an MLS Regular Season match in club history.
- FC Cincinnati are 17-5-6 against Western Conference opponents in MLS play under Head Coach Pat Noonan.
- Under Noonan, FC Cincinnati are 22-11-11 in 44 matches on two-days rest in all competitions.
- With two assists on the night, Evander recorded his 22nd and 23rd assists for FC Cincinnati and surpassed Emmanuel Ledesma into third place in club history.
- Tom Barlow became the third substitute in the club's MLS era to score multiple goals in a match (Yuya Kubo, 3 goals – 6/15/24 at SJ; Ayoub Jabbari, 2 goals – 2/18/26 at OYM, Concacaf Champions Cup).
- Matt Miazga became the 14th player in FC Cincinnati’s all-time history to make 100 appearances for the club.
- Evander made his 100th career MLS appearance Saturday.
- Nick Hagglund made his 200th career MLS start Saturday.
FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at San Diego FC
Date: May 16, 2026
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, California
Kickoff: 9:40 p.m. ET/6:40 p.m. PT
Weather: 66 degrees, cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
SD: 1-2-3
CIN: 1-2-3
SD – Marcus Ingvartsen (Sargeant, Valakari) 32’, Amahl Pellegrino (Soma, McVey) 66’, Marcus Ingvartsen (Saidi) 90’+6
CIN – Kenji Mboma Dem (Evander) 11’, Tom Barlow (Evander) 50’, Tom Barlow (Jabbari, Gidi) 90’+8
LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Kenji Mboma Dem (Bryan Ramirez 73’), Miles Robinson (Kyle Smith 46’), Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund (Obinna Nwobodo 73’), Pavel Bucha, Samuel Gidi, Tah Brian Anunga, Evander, Gerardo Valenzuela (Tom Barlow 46’), Kévin Denkey (Ayoub Jabbari 90’+1)
Substitutes not used: Evan Louro, Gilberto Flores, Ayoub Lajhar, Ender Echenique
Head Coach: Pat Noonan
SD: Duran Ferree, Kieran Sargeant (Oscar Verhoeven 46’), Manu Duah, Christopher McVey, Luca Bombino, Onni Valakari, David Vazquez (Alex Mighten 69’), Anibal Godoy (C) (Pedro Soma 46’), Amahl Pellegrino (Alejandro Alvarado 78’), Anders Dreyer, Marcus Ingvartsen (Anisse Saidi 90’+1)
Substitutes not used: CJ Dos Santos, Lewis Morgan, Bryan Zamble, Ian Pilcher
Head Coach: Mikey Varas
STATS SUMMARY: SD/CIN
Shots: 17 / 8
Shots on Goal: 5 / 6
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 7 / 2
Fouls: 8 / 9
Offside: 1 / 0
Possession: 58.6 / 41.4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Miles Robinson (Yellow Card) 24’
SD – David Vazquez (Yellow Card) 54’
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo (Yellow Card) 87’
CIN – Tom Barlow (Yellow Card) 90’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Timothy Ford
Ast. Referees: Jeremy Kieso, Eduardo Jeff
Fourth Official: Ricardo Fierro
VAR: Ramy Touchan
AVAR: Joshua Patlak
