FC Cincinnati defeated D.C. United 2-1 on Wednesday night, October 21, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, in a Major League Soccer match rescheduled from September 5 after heavy rain postponed that fixture. A crowd of 25,513 watched the Orange and Blue improve to 10-11-9 with 39 points, sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, above the playoff line, while D.C. United fell to 7-11-12 with 33 points.
Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Tyrell Malacia and Tom Barlow combined with passes into the far side of the penalty area, and Barlow’s shot deflected off a D.C. defender and skidded out to David Doudera. Doudera finished calmly from a tight angle on the right side, curving the ball inside the near post for his first goal for FC Cincinnati and the first MLS goal of his career, after joining the club over the summer.
The lead nearly disappeared ten minutes later. Defender Nick Hagglund, making his 180th appearance for FC Cincinnati to become the club’s all-time leader in games played, kept the match level in the 24th minute with a diving header save off the goal line. D.C. United did equalize before halftime, however, when Joao Peglow sent a high pass from midfield toward the box in the 38th minute and Kimito Nono controlled it and scored to make it 1-1.
Cincinnati retook the lead ten minutes into the second half. A foul gave Evander a free kick from about 40 yards out in the 55th minute, and the Brazilian sent the ball into a crowded goal box behind the back line. Teenage Hadebe slid in with his right foot extended and buried the ball for the game-winning goal. It was Hadebe’s first goal in three seasons with Cincinnati and his fourth career MLS goal. Evander was credited with the assist, his 16th in all competitions this season.
The win carried several milestones. It was Cincinnati’s first home victory over D.C. United since 2023, improving the club’s all-time record against the Black-and-Red to 5-6-4, and the eighth time in club history that multiple players scored their first goal for the club in the same match. Cincinnati finished with 15 shots to D.C. United’s 12, and six shots on goal to four.
The result matters with the regular season nearly finished. Cincinnati are now even on games played with the rest of the league, and just four matches remain in 2026. Holding eighth place keeps the club above the playoff line, but the margin is narrow enough that every remaining result will shape its postseason position.
The two clubs meet again almost immediately. FC Cincinnati travel to Washington, D.C., to face D.C. United again on Saturday, October 24, at Audi Field, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV and local radio coverage on Fox Sports 1360 and La Mega 101.5 FM. Cincinnati then return home to TQL Stadium on Saturday, October 31, to take on Philadelphia Union at 2 p.m.
Photo: Cornfield948, CC BY-SA