Kenji Mboma Dem scored a short-handed goal two minutes into second-half stoppage time and FC Cincinnati earned a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC on Saturday.

Mboma Dem subbed in for Bryan Ramrez in the 88th minute before using assists from Ayoub Jabbari and Samuel Gidi to score his first goal in his eighth career appearance all coming off the bench.

It was Jabbari's first assist in his 12th career match. Gidi has made 11 career appearances with all three of his assists coming this season.

Kvin Denkey left Cincinnati short-handed in the 71st minute when he was tagged with yellow cards one minute apart. It was the fourth straight match a Cincinnati player was sent off with a red card.

Things looked bleak after Toronto took a 1-0 lead in the 83rd minute on an own goal by defender Gilberto Flores.

Luka Gavran saved three shots for Toronto (3-2-2) in his 23rd career start. Gavran punched away a header by Matt Miazga off a short free kick in the final minute of stoppage time to keep it scoreless at halftime.

Roman Celantano totaled four saves for Cincinnati (2-4-1). Both keepers had two saves at the break.

Toronto is 4-0-7 in its last 11 home matches and won for the first time in Cincinnati earlier this season a 1-0 victory that ended a 7-0-1 overall run by Cincinnati in a series it leads 9-5-2. Toronto has gone 2-0-3 since that road win.

Toronto hasn't beaten Cincinnati at home since Sept. 29, 2021 a come-from-behind 3-2 victory.

Cincinnati: Hosts the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Toronto: Hosts Austin FC on Saturday.

An 11-year-old boy is cancer-free after battling stage 3 lymphoma, a journey marked by a special promise from an FC Cincinnati player.

Jude Simmons' family planned a special trip to the Grand Canyon and Reds spring training in February 2025. Shortly after, he woke up vomiting with severe stomach pain.

"We thought he had a stomach bug ... cancer wasn't on my radar at all," said his mother, Jordan Simmons.

One day, Jude was running around, playing baseball. The next, he was in the hospital learning of his lymphoma diagnosis.

"I was crying speaking with the oncologist and asking questions and stuff, but also wanting to regain composure as best as I could to then remain calm for Jude," Jordan said.

Jude told us he remembered the first time he learned about cancer, asking his mom what happened to a kid he saw in a magazine.

"My mom said, 'They have cancer.' I'm like, 'Oh, I hope that doesn't happen to me,'" Jude said. "And my mom's like, 'Probably not, it's unlikely.' But then here I was, in the hospital with cancer."

So, he battled but not alone. During his hospital stay, FC Cincinnati players visited him.

Watch: How one FC Cincinnati star kept his promise to Jude

"I was minding my own business, then I found out I had cancer, I felt miserable, but then these um famous FC players just walked into the room," Jude said. "I just felt ... loved and that I just felt special."

FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund bonded with Jude over the video game Minecraft.

"We honestly were just hanging out, we were chatting, we talked about Minecraft because that was his favorite video game, that's the thing that he liked to do," Hagglund said.

Hagglund not only hung out with Jude but also told him he'd dedicate a goal celebration to him.

"I asked him if I could do a celebration, what he'd want me to do if he scored a goal," Hagglund said.

Hagglund said he didn't know much about Minecraft, but Jude told him about a sword. That's when he suggested a sword pull celebration.

"I (was) like, yes, that'd be awesome," Jude said.

Jude said the celebration was about more than just scoring a goal.

"You're pulling a Minecraft sword out, and you act like you're like conquering something, and technically for me it's conquering cancer," Jude said.

Jordan said she wasn't sure the celebration would come to fruition. Hagglund, a defender, typically scores one goal per season with Cincinnati.

"I was like, there's no way, but also he's kind of promising that to my 10-year-old son who has cancer, so it seems like this might happen one day," Jordan said.

And it did happen one day. In the opening game of the 2026 season, more than nine months after making the promise to Judge, Hagglund scored a game-sealing goal in the 90th minute.

Hagglund ran in front of the supporters' section and, with all eyes on him, performed the sword pull.

"I just love how confidently and strongly he pulls out that sword. My uncle sent me your interview of Nick, where Nick was like, saying, like, 'No this this is for Jude,'" Jordan said. "I can't doubt it past that, you know, that I was just like, 'Oh my gosh.'"

I asked Hagglund what was going through his mind in that moment.

"Honestly, I'm just thinking like, 'I hope Jude's seeing this right now,'" Hagglund said.

And Jude did see it.

"Whenever I see Nick pull the sword, then I remember it for the rest of the day, and then when I play Minecraft, I hit those zombies as hard as I can," Jude said. "It's like the zombies are cancer and the sword is me, and I'm just like (does slashing motion), it just feels amazing."

But maybe the one thing even more powerful than pulling the sword is ringing the bell, which Jude was also able to do after winning his battle with cancer.

We asked Jude for his advice to people going through hard things.

"I felt this way too. I've been through hard things," Jude said. "If I can do it, you can do it ... I've been through this too; you can make it through."

Hagglund told us, "Jude is a warrior."

"He can get through anything, you know, if you can do this at such a young age, it says a lot about his character and his positivity," Hagglund said. "He just always has this huge smile on his face, and I think that that's gonna go with him through his entire life."

Tom Barlow scored short-handed for the equalizer in the 80th minute and Kvin Denkey followed with the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, rallying FC Cincinnati to a 4-3 victory over CF Montreal on Sunday.

Barlow tied it 3-3 when he scored three minutes after subbing in to the match. It was his first MLS goal with his new team. Denkey scored for the second time this season also unassisted after notching 15 goals in 29 appearances last season his first in the league.

Cincinnati (2-3-0) was forced to play a man down after Miles Robinson's red card in the 60th minute.

Newcomer Wiki Carmona used assists from Prince Owusu and Bode Hidalgo in the 6th minute to score for the third time in three matches and give Montreal a 1-0 lead.

Ender Echenique tied it in the 40th minute for Cincinnati with his first goal this season. The 21-year-old scored once in eight appearances last season. Defender Alvas Powell and Matt Miazga had assists. Powell picked up his first assist of the campaign and became the fifth player to make 150 appearances for the club.

Montreal took a 2-1 lead into halftime when Owusu scored in the 45th minute. Carmona and Ivn Jaime had assists. It was the third goal this season for Owusu and his 25th in 79 career appearances.

Cincinnati knotted the score again in the 52nd minute on Ayoub Jabbari's first career goal in his 10th appearance. Echenique had his first assist and second overall, while Pavel Bucha notched his first and 13th in 70 appearances.

Evan Louro totaled four saves in his first start this season for Cincinnati and his sixth career start since 2024.

Thomas Gillier, 21, finished with four saves for Montreal (1-4-0) in his 13th career start.

Cincinnati improves to 8-4-2 all-time versus Montreal and its eight victories in the series is its most against any club.

Montreal: Visits the New England Revolution on April 4.

Cincinnati: Visits the New York Red Bulls on April 4.

Last year, Ohio lawmakers pledged hundreds of millions of dollars for sports and cultural facility grants to be used from the state's unclaimed funds. Ohio has already said it would set aside $1 billion in grant money, with the first $600 million to go to the Cleveland Browns for the team's new stadium in Brook Park. Now, other teams and organizations want their share.

The Ohio Sports Facility Grant Program is offering organizations the opportunity to apply for funds totaling up to 25% of a project's expected cost, with a cap of $250 million.

Through a public records request, our partners at WEWS in Cleveland received a list of teams, organizations and counties that applied for those grants. Now, we know how much each sports team or organization has requested from the state.

Here's the breakdown:

Additionally, there was an applicant from Massachusetts, but we did not list it because it doesn't meet the requirements of the grant program.

Jarboe previously reported that, to get a grant, applicants must show that their projects will benefit the state by generating tax revenue, meeting or exceeding the grant amount applied for.

Unclaimed funds pushback

Not everyone is happy about unclaimed funds being used. Last week, News 5 reported that a woman had a life insurance check sitting in the pot for decades and only learned about it when state lawmakers moved to use unclaimed funds to help the Browns.

WATCH:

RELATED: She's had unclaimed funds for decades. She had no idea until the Browns stadium came along.

Kvin Denkey and Nick Hagglund scored late goals to lead FC Cincinnati to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC in an MLS regular season opener for both teams on Saturday.

In the 80th minute, Denkey received an assist from Ender Echenique, faking out goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos before finishing with his left foot between a pair of defenders.

Hagglund doubled their tally with a header from a Bryan Ramrez corner in the 90th minute. Hagglund suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung against Atlanta in on May 25 last year, missing more than two months.

Cincinnati lost 2025 MVP finalist Evander due to a hamstring injury 13 minutes into the game. He was replaced by Gerardo Valenzuela.

Denkey missed a golden chance in the 56th minute. After a turnover from center back Juan Berrocal fell to Denkey, he had a one-on-one chance with Hoyos, but hit the outside of the right post.

It was the first game for Atlanta United manager Gerardo Tato Martino, the former Argentina and Barcelona manager who most recently managed Inter Miami from 2023-24 and coached Lionel Messi at all three stops.

FC Cincinnati's newest kit design pays homage to the City of Seven Hills.

The Seven Hills kit will replace the team's Canvas kit from the past two seasons, and will be worn as FC Cincinnati's secondary uniform alongside the Orange and Blue legacy kit from last season, according to an announcement from the team.

The team will wear the new Seven Hills kit for the first time in the club's MLS regular season opener at TQL Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 21, when they take the pitch against Atlanta United FC.

Fans can buy the kits online or by visiting the Over-the-Rhine team store, or the team store located at TQL Stadium.

According to the announcement, the Seven Hills kit features peaks representing Cincinnati's iconic seven hills. Each peak also symbolizes challenges overcome as a community.

"Cincinnati's seven hills offer more than just a scenic backdrop," reads the announcement from the team. "Each hill tells a story, reflecting the city's rich and vibrant culture. From the bustling streets of Mount Adams to the serene parks of Price Hill, these elevations provide a unique perspective on the city's evolution. They are not just geographical features but integral parts of Cincinnati's identity."

The kit is mostly white, with orange peaked stripes vertically centered on it; the jock tag is also a symbolic interpretation of the city's seven hills, with negative space between shapes forming the number seven. The seven navy and white stripes also reinforce the number's representation, while also paying tribute to Cincinnati's city flag, the team said.

On the back of the kit's neck is the team's slogan "All for Cincy."

The shorts are also orange, with white stripes down the sides. According to the team's announcement, this is the first time FC Cincinnati will wear orange shorts since the Juncta Juvant kit released in the 2022-2023 season.

The whole kit is also FC Cincinnati's first white-orange-white combination in the club's history.

FC Cincinnati announced Sunday that it has transferred winger Luca Orellano to Liga MX's CF Monterrey.

FCC said it agreed to transfer the 25-year-old to Monterrey for a multi-million dollar fee, but the club didn't specify how much.

Orellano has been with the Orange and Blue for two seasons, where he scored 15 goals, 14 assists and 77 appearances. The Argentine scored three goals throughout the 2025 season, including one against CF Monterrey during the Leagues Cup.

The winger was also named to the MLS All-Star Team in 2024 and earned 2024's MLS Goal of the Year with a deep free kick from behind the half-field line at TQL Stadium against CF Montreal.

"We'd like to thank Luca for his contributions and dedication to FC Cincinnati," said FC Cincinnati General Manager Chris Albright. "He's a really talented player, and a good person. We're happy for him and his family and we're excited to watch his career continue in Monterrey."

Before his time with FC Cincinnati, Orellano also played for Vasco de Gama in Brazil and Velez Sarsfield in Argentina.

FC Cincinnati's newest defender is a Queen City native.

The team announced it signed Kyle Smith, a La Salle grad, through the 2026 season with an option through June 2027.

Smith has made over 300 professional appearances in his 10-year career.

He was the 2009 Greater Catholic League South Soccer Player of the Year while at La Salle, before heading to Transylvania University where he was a four-year starter.

Smith joined Louisville City in 2017, where he made 103 appearances in three seasons, scoring nine goals and eight assists. He was on the team during Louisville City's back-to-back championship seasons in 2017 and 2018, before he joined MLS team Orlando City SC.

"We're thrilled to bring Kyle back home to Cincinnati," said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati's general manager, in a press release. "He's an experienced player, an exceptional teammate and a winner. We're proud to welcome him to the club."

Smith spent seven seasons with Orlando City SC before deciding to head home to join FC Cincinnati, but he's no stranger to the Orange and Blue. Kyle played against FC Cincinnati in a combined 18 appearances between his tome with Orlando and Louisville, with 11 of those happening here in Cincinnati.

"I'm incredibly grateful and excited to join FC Cincinnati," said Smith in a press release. "This is a special club with amazing ans and a winning culture. Coming home to Cincinnati means a lot to me personally, and I can't wait to compete for trophies in front of the best supporters in MLS at TQL Stadium. I'm ready to do whatever the team needs to help win games and push for championships."

FC Cincinnati is losing another player in the offseason, the team announced Monday.

Brenner is set to return to the Italian Serie A club Udinese as his loan with FCC expires.

FC Cincinnati acquired the Brazilian striker during the MLS Secondary Transfer Window in August, and he played with the team through the end of the 2025 season.

Throughout his time with Cincinnati in 2025, the striker scored six goals in 10 games. He scored four regular-season goals for Cincinnati, and he helped punch the team through Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs when he scored an equalizer in the 67th minute and the match-winning goal in the 86th minute against the Columbus Crew. The playoff match marked his eighth multi-game goal with FC Cincinnati.

The 2025 season was Brenner's second stint with the Orange and Blue after the 35-year-old was first transferred to the team by Sao Paulo in 2021. In 2022, Brenner requested a transfer from the team, which was denied by the club. He again requested a transfer in 2023 before FC Cincinnati sent him to Udinese that year.

In his career with FC Cincinnati, Brenner has scored 33 goals in all competitions, ranking third-most in club history.

"FC Cincinnati are deeply grateful for Brenner's dedication to the club and his contributions this season, and the club wishes him all the best as he continues his career from Udinese," FC Cincinnati said.

FC Cincinnati fell to Inter Miami CF 4-0 on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The win marks the first time No. 3 Inter Miami has advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in club history.

Possession was split practically 50/50 between the two clubs, but Miami dominated the second half specifically.

Miami capped off its dominating win over No. 2 Cincinnati when Tadeo Allende got his second goal of the night in the 74th minute when he went one-on-one with FCC goalkeeper Roman Celentano. Allende got his first in the 62nd minute off an assist from Lionel Messi.

Shortly before, Mateo Silvetti knocked one into the bottom right corner of the goal in the 57th minute.

In the first half, Messi collected a header from the center of the box after a cross from Silvetti. The goal marked his first in TQL Stadium.

The two teams met twice during the regular season, with FCC earning a 3-0 victory at TQL on July 16 before the two teams had a scoreless draw on July 26.

Sunday's match marked the first time Cincinnati has made it to the semifinals since 2023, when they defeated Philadelphia Union 1-0. Cincinnati went on to fall in the Eastern Conference Finals that year to the Columbus Crew, who won the MLS Cup.

Inter Miami will now go on to face either Philadelphia Union or New York City FC in the Eastern Conference Final.

Want to watch a snow-covered match at TQL Stadium? That might be a possibility in the coming years as Major League Soccer plans to shift its calendar to late July through late May.

The league announced Thursday its plan to transition from a February through October schedule to July through May, starting with the 2027-28 regular season. The change matches the schedules of international leagues like the Premier League, La Liga and and Ligue 1.

"The calendar shift is one of the most important decisions in our history," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a release. "Aligning our schedule with the worlds top leagues will strengthen our clubs global competitiveness, create better opportunities in the transfer market, and ensure our Audi MLS Cup Playoffs take center stage without interruption. It marks the start of a new era for our league and for soccer in North America."

WATCH: We spoke with FC Cincinnati's staff about the change

MLS will take a break from mid-December to early-February, likely to avoid harsh conditions and a loaded playoff football schedule. Then, a summer break would take place in June and July.

Because of this change, the league also announced it will stage a shortened season from February to May 2027, with a 14-game regular season, playoffs and MLS Cup.

MLS said it will look at changing its playoff format ahead of the switch, but did not announce any official plans at this time.

We spoke with FC Cincinnati leaders, who said they voted for the change to align with global schedules and help with player transfers and signings.

More on the choice to change the season:

As fans packed Washington Park before Saturday night's game against the Columbus Crew, the anticipation was palpable.

"The energy we have here, it's awesome," FC Cincinnati fan Leila Firdaus said.

Not only was it win-or-go-home time, but it was also a matchup against bitter rivals.

Fans like Dylan Morton said a matchup against Columbus just means a little more.

"We saw the Columbus Crew coming through the street, chanting and parading, we're like 'we can't have that'," Morton said.

For some, these nerve-wracking games are exactly why they became fans.

WATCH: FC Cincinnati fans react to playoff win over rival Columbus:

"I've been a fan since literally 9 years old, so it means a lot to me," Firdaus said.

We watched among many anxious fans at The Pitch.

After a scoreless first half, Columbus struck first in the 63rd minute.

The sorrow in the room quickly changed to jubilation after FC Cincinnati responded just minutes later.

Fans anxiously watched until Cincinnati scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute.

The win marks Cincinnati's first time in the Eastern Conference Semifinals since 2023.

We spoke to FC Cincinnati fan Gordo Heidinger immediately after the game ended.

"I think this is probably the most important win we've had so far," Heidinger said.

Not only was it a win to advance in the playoffs, but it was one over their rival, making it a little sweeter.

"They brought nightmares to us a couple of years ago, we're back now!," one fan said.

It's a win that's given FC Cincinnati fans a lot of hope and the idea that this could be the start of a magical run.

"Championship or bust," Heidinger said.

FC Cincinnati will now advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and will face No. 3 Inter Miami.

FC Cincinnati has advanced in the MLS Cup Playoffs after beating the Columbus Crew 2-1 on Saturday in TQL Stadium.

No. 2 FC Cincinnati captured the victory with a score in the 86th from Brenner.

The Crew scored first in the match with Jacen Russell-Rowe capturing a goal in the 63rd just minutes after Luca Orellano swapped in for Lukas Engel after he left with an injury. FC Cincinnati quickly responded as Brenner found the back of the net in the 67th.

The Orange and Blue had captured the Match 1 win on Oct. 27, before No. 7 Columbus pulled out a 4-0 victory to force the Round One Best-of-3 Series to Match 3.

FC Cincinnati will now advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, facing No. 3 Inter Miami. This is Cincinnati's first time in the Eastern Conference Semifinals since 2023, when they defeated Philadelphia Union 1-0. Cincinnati went on to fall in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Columbus Crew, who won the MLS Cup that year.

The No. 1 Philadelphia Union and No. 5 New York City FC have already advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and will face each other. In the Western Conference, the No. 2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the No. 3 Los Angeles FC have advanced to the semifinals.

The exact date and time for FCC's semifinal match has not been set, but conference semifinals will take place Saturday, Nov. 22, and Sunday, Nov. 23. Conference finals will occur Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 30, before the MLS Cup final on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Max Arfsten had a goal and two assists and Dylan Chambost scored a first-half goal on Sunday night to help the Columbus Crew avoid elimination from the MLS Cup playoffs and beat FC Cincinnati 4-0 in Game 2 of the best-of-three first-round series.

The series returns to TQL Stadium, where Cincinnati won the opener 1-0, for Game 3 on Saturday. The winner advances to the one-game Eastern Conference semifinals against No.3 seed Miami or sixth-seeded Nashville.

Jacen Russell-Rowe, who replaced Diego Rossi in the 61st minute, fed Andrs Herrera for a goal in the 65th and added a his first career playoff goal in the 69th.

Arfsten opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. Rossi, on the counter-attack, won a loose from defender Alvas Powell at the edge of the 18-yard box and poked it Arfsten on the left side of the area. The 24-year-old midfielder cut outside to evade goalkeeper Roman Celantano, who had charged off his line, and blasted a shot from the corner of the 6-yard box into the top-net for his third career playoff goal.

Yuya Kubo was shown a yellow card in the seventh minute and another in the 38th and No. 2 seed Cincinnati played a man down the rest of the way.

Chambost, whose shot in the seventh minute was stopped by Celentano, bent the ensuing free kick, from just outside the top of the box on the right side, inside the near post to make it 2-0 in the 41st.

The seventh-seeded Crew outshot Cincinnati 19-1.

Columbus defender Rudy Camacho, who had been sidelined due to a thigh injury, made his season debut when he subbed on 81st minute.

Celentano, who finished with five saves, dove to break up a cross played by Taha Habroune and was accidentally kicked in the head by Hugo Picard in the third minute. Celentano was evaluated for a head injury and was allowed to remain in the game.

As FC Cincinnati battles it out in the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Orange and Blue are also raking in MLS honors.

Cincinnati native Nick Hagglund has been awarded the 2025 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.

Hagglund received the honor by earning nearly 35% of the vote among all nominated players for the award. The award is Hagglund's first major individual MLS honor, as well as FC Cincinnati's first player in club history to be awarded Comeback Player of the Year.

Throughout the 2025 season, Hagglund has been bouncing back from a severe leg injury he sustained in June 2024. During a match against the New England Revolution, Hagglund slid to tackle an opposing player and fractured his fibula, tore several ligaments and tendons and significantly damaged cartilage in his ankle.

Hagglund underwent surgery in July 2024 and began a more than 250-day recovery process. The injury marked his third season-ending injury in the prior four seasons.

The defender returned to the pitch after the leg injury on March 22 against Atlanta United FC. He made 10 appearances for FCC before suffering another injury two fractured ribs and a collapsed lung on May 25.

Those injuries sidelined Hagglund again until he returned to the pitch in August, where he has made seven starts in eight appearances.

Hagglund is the only player with FC Cincinnati to have spent all seven MLS seasons with the club. He's made 17 MLS appearances this season, four of which were clean sheet performances.

With Hagglund's help on the backline, Cincinnati produced a 10-4-3 record when he played, which included FCC's five-game winning streak from March 29 to April 26.

FC Cincinnati continues its postseason journey with Match 2 against the Columbus Crew in the Round One Best-of-3 Series on Sunday, Nov. 2. The Orange and Blue won Match 1 over the Crew at TQL Stadium.

After 70 minutes without a goal, FC Cincinnati's Alvas Powell beat out the Columbus Crew's defense for the ball, setting up forward Kvin Denkey for the goal that clinched the matchup's first playoff game.

But outside of that moment, Powell said he's been doing a balancing act.

Powell was on the pitch at TQL Stadium, providing the team with a game-winning assist, as Hurricane Melissa bore down on his native country of Jamaica.

"I have to balance work and balance family, and my family is doing good," Powell said. "All the people that I know is doing good, so I already know that before I go out. So everything is good so far, I'm just hoping for the best."

Denkey scored the goal in the 78th minute of the game, just eight minutes after Powell subbed in. Winger Ender Echenique sent a cross in front of the Crew's goal that was deflected at the back post by Powell.

Denkey then settled the loose ball before sinking it into the goal, over Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

Powell told us watching the ball fly into the net felt amazing.

Still, he said he's also thinking about his loved ones.

"Just stay safe, try and stay safe," Powell said he wanted to tell everyone in Jamaica. "And may God be with all of you guys."

The game was the first of three playoff games to be held between FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew; the next match will be held in Columbus on November 2.

FC Cincinnati signed Powell to the team in 2021; the Jamaican international previously spent the 2019 season in Cincinnati as well.

He has made 58 appearances for the Jamaican National Team since his debut in 2012.

Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica early Tuesday and slice diagonally across the island; shortly after, it is expected to hit Cuba.

Hours before the storm, the Jamaican government said it had done all it could to prepare as it warned of catastrophic damage.

There is no infrastructure in the region that can withstand a Category 5, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said. The question now is the speed of recovery. Thats the challenge.

Kvin Denkey scored in his first MLS playoff game to give Cincinnati a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on Monday night to begin a three-game series.

Cincinnati, which is in the playoffs for the fourth straight season, plays Game 2 at Columbus on Sunday.

Denkey scored in the 78th minute. Ender Echenique sent a cross in front of the goal that was deflected at the back post by Alvas Powell. Denkey settled the loose ball in front of the net and sent it over goalkeeper Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.

Nine of Denkey's 16 goals this season have been game winners.

Roman Celentano made three saves to earn the clean sheet for Cincinnati.

Schulte made a huge save of Brenners strike in the final minute of the first half to keep it scoreless.

FC Cincinnati is headed to the playoffs and facing a familiar rival the Columbus Crew. With the first playoff game set for Monday night at TQL Stadium, fans are eager to secure their seats for what promises to be an exciting matchup.

I went to TQL Stadium to find out what kind of ticket deals are available to help you get the best price.

WATCH: How to save on FC Cincinnati playoff tickets

FC Cincinnati CEO Jeff Berding said tickets are still available at fccincinnati.com and start at around $50.

"We tried to keep prices very reasonable to make it accessible for all of our fans and families," Berding said.

Sam Wulfeck with 333 Seat said tickets are selling fast.

"The excitement is off the charts for this one. We've seen a huge amount of demand; people are so excited," Wulfeck said.

Family pack deal: FCC offers a family pack featuring four tickets, each including your choice of pizza, soda or beer, for just $140 total that's $35 per person.

Student discounts: College students can get discounted tickets by using a .edu email address.

Free admission for toddlers: Kids 3 and under get in free but must sit on a lap.

Group discounts: Groups of more than 10 people can score additional discounts.

If you buy tickets outside of fccincinnati.com or SeatGeek, you risk paying extra fees or receiving fake tickets. The club won't refund purchases from unofficial sellers.

For potential Game 3 tickets, there's good news about refunds.

"If the event doesn't get played, we're not gonna keep your money, we'll give your money back, give you a refund," Wulfeck said.

However, if you want to attend a potential Game 3, Wulfeck recommends buying now because tickets are selling quickly.

"Those games are subject to change date and time. If the game's played and time's not perfect for you, we apologize, but all sales are final in that situation," Wulfeck said.

The team is encouraging an "orange out" for the playoff atmosphere.

"It's an orange out. We're hoping not only will we fill the stadium, fans will wear orange and show the Crew here in Cincinnati it's orange and blue not that yellow and black," Berding said.

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Hell is Real is coming back to the Queen City for Round One of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs.

No. 2 FC Cincinnati is set to face No. 7 Columbus Crew in a Best-of-3 series of the playoffs.

The Orange and Blue hold home-field advantage over the Crew and will host Game 1 and Game 3, if necessary.

Game 1 is set for Monday, Oct. 27, with kickoff at 6:45 p.m. at TQL Stadium. You can click here to purchase tickets. The match will air on Fox Sports 1, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and Fox Deportes. MLS Season Pass, which is normally a separate subscription, will be made free for Apple TV users.

FCC will travel to Lower.com Field for Game 2, which is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m. That match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

If the series goes to Game 3, the match is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8, with a to-be-determined kickoff time.

For the Round One Best-of-3 series, all games will end with a winner which means zero draws and aggregate score. If at the end of regulation both teams are tied, no extra time will be played. Instead, both teams will immediately participate in penalty kicks to determine a winner.

During the regular season, FCC and the Crew settled for a draw in Columbus in May before FCC fell to the Crew in TQL Stadium in July. Cincinnati and Columbus last met in the postseason in 2023, when the Crew came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Cincinnati 3-2 in extra time to take the Eastern Conference Final. The Crew then nabbed the MLS Cup that year.

Ahead of Round One, two Wild Card matches between Chicago Fire and Orlando City and Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake kick off the playoffs on Wednesday, Oct. 22.

If FC Cincinnati wins the Best-of-3 Series, they'll advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, which are set for Saturday, Nov. 22, through Sunday, Nov. 23. There, they'll face the winner between Inter Miami and Nashville SC.

The Eastern and Western Conference Finals are then set for Saturday, Nov. 29, through Sunday, Nov. 30. The 2025 MLS Cup championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6.

Philadelphia Union nabbed the Supporters' Shield and the No. 1 Eastern Conference spot.

Defender Nick Hagglund, Evander Da Silva Ferreira and Brenner Souza all scored and Roman Celentano was untouchable as FC Cincinnati claimed second place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-0 Decision Day victory over CF Montreal on Saturday.

Hagglund found the net for the first time this season to give Cincinnati (20-9-5) a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute. It was his 10th goal in 231 career appearances.

Evander, who collected his 15th assist on Hagglund's netter, set a career high with his 18th goal in his first season with the Crew for a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute. Hagglund picked up his first assist this season on the score.

Brenner used a pass from Gerardo Valenzuela to cap the scoring in the 88th minute. It was the fourth goal in six appearances this season for Brenner. Valenzuela's assist was his first of the campaign and his fourth in 55 career appearances.

Celentano finished with three saves to earn his 10th clean sheet in 30 starts this season for Cincinnati. It was Celentano's 35th career shutout in 157 starts all with his current club.

Rookie Thomas Gillier, 21, saved four shots for Montreal (6-18-10) in his eighth career start.

Cincinnati beat Montreal 3-1 on the road earlier this season.

Cincinnati notched its second 20-win season. The club finished 20-5-9 in 2023.

Evander Da Silva Ferreira known simply as Evander scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to help FC Cincinnati beat Nashville SC 2-1 on Saturday night and clinch a spot in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs.

Pavel Bucha, on the right side of the area, played a back-heel pass to Ender Echenique, who tapped it to Evander for a first-touch finish from the center of the area.

Cincinnati (17-9-4), which had lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, is second in the Eastern Conference with 55 points this season. Philadelphia, the points leader in all of MLS, is first with 58.

On the counter-attack, Brenner Souza commonly referred to as Brenner ran onto a ball played ahead by Evander and scored from the center of the area to give Cincinnati a 1-0 lead.

Sam Surridge scored for Nashville in the 83rd minute.

Evan Louro started in his first appearance of the season in place of injured Roman Celentano (leg) and had four saves for Cincinnati.

Nashville (15-11-5) has lost five of its last six.

Joe Willis stopped six shots for Nashville.

Cincinnati beat Nashville 2-1 on March 29

FC Cincinnati is trading defender DeAndre Yedlin to Real Salt Lake in exchange for money.

The MLS announced Thursday Cincinnati will receive $304,700 in 2025 General Allocation Money from Real Salt Lake in exchange for the three-time MLS All-Star.

"DeAndre has been an incredible part of our FC Cincinnati family," said FCC general manager Chris Albright. "He's a top professional, teammate and person, and we wish him and his family all the best in Salt Lake."

Yedlin started 47 games in two seasons for the Orange and Blue. He came to Cincinnati in 2024 from Inter Miami FC, where he was vice captain of a squad led by Lionel Messi.

Before that, the 32-year-old spent time in England after making his professional debut in 2013 for the Seattle Sounders, where he was the club's first homegrown player.

Cincinnati is currently tied atop the Supporters' Shield standings, acquiring midfielder Samuel Gidi and winger Ender Echenique this summer to bolster the squad.

Kvin Denkey scored early to spark a three-goal first half and FC Cincinnati hung on to beat the Portland Timbers 3-2 on Saturday night to take over first place in the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield races.

Denkey needed just 10 minutes to score unassisted and give Cincinnati (16-7-4) the lead after the club hadnt scored in its previous two matches. He has 12 goals in his first 23 appearances in the league.

Pavel Bucha scored unassisted for his third goal 15 minutes later to put Cincinnati up 2-0.

Evander da Silva Ferreira scored against his former teammates in the 36th minute for a three-goal advantage. It was the 15th goal for Evander, matching his career high set last season with the Timbers. He had 24 goals and 19 assists in his two seasons in Portland.

The Timbers (10-9-7) cut it to 3-1 by halftime when Kevin Kelsy scored two minutes later against his former team with an assist from Ariel Lassiter his first of the season.

Kelsy pulled Portland within a goal on a penalty kick his first of the season in the 68th minute. It was Kelsys seventh goal one more than he had for Cincinnati last season as a rookie. The PK was awarded after Juan Mosquera drew a foul on Stiven Jimenez.

Roman Celantano totaled three saves for Cincinnati in the clubs first trip to Portland.

Maxime Crpeau saved two shots for the Timbers.

Cincinnati has a league-high nine road wins one more than expansion side San Diego FC.

Cincinnati will host New York City FC on Saturday. The Timbers travel to play San Diego on Saturday.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

When thinking of attending an FC Cincinnati match at TQL Stadium, most people probably think of the rowdy fun had in The Bailey or the stands. Now, FC Cincinnati has introduced a viewing option for those who enjoy the finer, more luxurious things in life.

The Speakeasy is a 2,000-square-foot "premium bar and lounge" offering FC Cincinnati fans the opportunity to enjoy matches alongside craft cocktails and gourmet food options.

The lounge is located in "the heart of TQL Stadium," according to its website. The Speakeasy opens its doors Thursday and will be open during each FC Cincinnati match, but access is available on a match-by-match basis. Those who do acquire access for a match can enjoy it from some of the best seats in TQL Stadium.

Jeff Berding, co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, said The Speakeasy "is a symbol of our continued commitment to excellence."

Inside the lounge, The Speakeasy displays various artworks and decor that boast the Orange and Blue for FC Cincinnati but also pay homage to the Prohibition era, where those who wanted to drink alcohol had to "speak easy" about it.

Berding said they're goal is to send guests back to that era with "retro" elements around the lounge, including the bar, furniture, the music that will play and the sense of exclusivity the lounge brings. Chad Munitz, chief revenue officer for FC Cincinnati, said prior to renovations, the location of the bar was a windowless storage room.

"When you walk up on the plaza, if you weren't meant to know this is where The Speakeasy is, you wouldn't know," Berding said.

For those lucky enough to know about it, The Speakeasy has ample seating options, including various leather sofas, secluded booths and comfortable bar stools.

In terms of cocktails, shelves of liquor bottles adorn the walls behind the bar, showcasing a variety of bourbons, gins, vodkas, tequilas and more.

The Speakeasy also offers its take on classic cocktails. Guests can enjoy a Sidecar with cognac, Cointreau and lemon sour garnished with sliced lemon or a Gibson, which has gin, dry vermouth and bitters garnished with a cocktail onion. Some of the lounge's other cocktails include a spicy margarita, an espresso martini and a Bee's Knees cocktail.

To go along with drinks, The Speakeasy's menu is chef-curated. Guests can enjoy "elevated small plates," such as whiskey braised short rib with a crispy polenta cake, stuffed mushrooms, gin and beet cured salmon, smoked deviled eggs and more.

Berding said the lounge is also available to be rented on non-match days.

"It's also great to host a non-match day event when you're looking for the right place to host a birthday party, maybe your fantasy football draft, an anniversary celebration or another place where you're just looking to have fun," Berding said.

To learn more about how to gain access to The Speakeasy, click here. You can find more non-match day booking information here.

Superstar Lionel Messi and his teammate Jordi Alba will not play in Inter Miami's match against FC Cincinnati Saturday, Major League Soccer announced.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement the league has a "long-standing policy" regarding All-Star participation, and anyone who does not get prior approval from the league to skip the game is ruled ineligible for their club's next match.

Neither Messi nor Alba got approval to not participate.

"It was a very difficult decision," Garber said in the statement. "That said, were going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. Im committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve."

Cincinnati will travel to Chase Stadium to take on the Messi-less Miami side at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. The Orange and Blue currently sit atop the Eastern Conference and boast an away record of 8-4-1.

Every child is unique. FC Cincinnati superfan Nick Stephens, 12, is one of a kind.

Hes just a special guy, Nicks aunt Jenny Voet said.

Being one of a kind can be lonely.

He doesnt have a lot of friends because he doesnt want a lot of friends, Voet said.

School can be tough for Nick.

I basically just learned, and it was basically regular, but it wasnt until like October or November when last year rolled around that I started getting hated, Nick said.

He kind of marches to the beat of his own drum, and he gets very passionate about things, and when he finds something he loves, he is in it 1,000%, Voet said.

What Nick loves is FC Cincinnati.

His world is FC Cincinnati, Voet said.

FC Cincinnati has become Nicks outlet, not because he loves soccer, but because he found a passion for tifos. Tifos are the big flags that drape over soccer supporters sections. Nick specifically loves the tifos displayed over FC Cincinnatis supporters section, The Bailey.

WATCH: How tifos helped this 11-year-old grow his confidence

I got obsessed with it along with the supporters culture of FC Cincinnati, Nick said.

Last year, Aunt Jenny took Nick to a tifo painting. Thats where Nick felt a stroke of what supporters' culture really is.

He looks at me and hes like, 'Its the big flag guy!' I was like, 'Yeah, I guess. Yeah, man, thats me,' said Graham Rich, who designed the tifo for FC Cincinnatis Hell is Real rivalry match against Columbus this summer.

Rich has designed multiple tifos that have been displayed in The Bailey.

He just sat next to me and we painted, and that was it, Rich said.

Rich was 35 when he met, at the time, 11-year-old Nick. But the 24-year age gap meant nothing to these two as they bonded over painting flags for FC Cincinnati.

A connection turned into an invitation. Rich invited Nick to join the iconic Bailey march to the stadium.

When its a game day, especially like a day where Im going down to Northern Row Brewery, thats a day I get really hyped for. I wake up with a smile and just count down the hours, Nick said.

At the time when I met him, I was going through personal stuff he just gives off an energy, like a light, Rich said.

Even when alone, Nick has high energy, but now he knows hes never alone.

When the tifo goes over its like, Theres my hard work, thats my hard work! Oh, I painted that side! Oh, I painted that corner! Nick said.

Hes changed a lot. Hes become a lot more comfortable in his own skin. A lot more confident. The teachers have been calling his parents and telling them how much better his grades are, Voet said.

Rich means everything to Nick.

Since he introduced me to all of his Bailey friends, I knew that I wasnt alone and that I was very well-liked, Nick said.

Its a family at this point, Rich said.

Hes been bullied in school, and he doesnt care anymore. Hes got his friends in The Bailey, Voet said.

If somebody is expressing interest in something that brings them joy, do everything you can to keep them on that path, Rich said.

Nick has found his community and has advice for other kids who feel lonely and are still looking for their people.

Focus on what you love, and make sure that what you love can make you the happiest kid you could be, Nick said.

With a little bit of love, no kid should feel alone.

Luca Orellano scored late in the second half and Roman Celentano turned away seven shots as FC Cincinnati snapped Real Salt Lakes five-match unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory on Saturday night, grabbing the lead in the Eastern Conference and Supporters Shield races with the win.

Orellano subbed in for Gerardo Valenzuela in the 63rd minute and used Tah Brian Anungas first career assist to score in the 87th. It was his second goal after scoring 10 times as a rookie last season.

Celentano notched his eighth clean sheet of the campaign for Cincinnati (15-6-3), which moved one point in front of Nashville SC and the Philadelphia Union in both races.

Rafael Cabral finished with three saves for Real Salt Lake (8-11-4), which had four wins during its unbeaten run.

Evander da Silva Ferreira had a club-record five-match goal scoring streak end in his first season with Cincinnati. He has already tied the team record with five two-goal efforts in a single season and his 15 goals are three away from Luciano Acostas single-season club record.

Cincinnati improves to 15-4-5 against Western Conference opponents under manager Pat Noonan.

It was the third all-time matchup and the second played in Utah. The road team has won all three.

Cincinnati travels to play Inter Miami on Saturday. Real Salt Lake will host the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Columbus rallied from an early two-goal deficit to defeat Cincinnati 4-2 on Saturday night, with Taha Habroune scoring the final goal in second-half stoppage time.

After trailing 2-0 in the first five minutes, Columbus tied it late in the first half and took a 3-2 lead with an own goal by Cincinnati's Miles Robinson who was trying to defend a cross by Columbus. Habroune wrapped it up when he scored on a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.

The game started an hour late after a weather delay and Cincinnati scored almost immediately when Pavel Bucha connected with a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the first minute.

The score reached 2-0 when in the fifth minute when Evander Da Silva Ferreira scored with a right-footed shot from the right half-space outside the box to the middle-left zone.

Columbus tied it late in the first half with goals from Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten.

In the 42nd minute, Rossi scored with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box. In the third minute of stoppage time, Arfsten tied it with a difficult shot from the central position outside the box.

Cincinnati (13-6-3) entered the match with a league-best 42 points but saw its four-match winning streak come to an end. Philadelphia, which defeated New York 2-0, passed Cincinnati with 43 points.

Columbus (11-3-8) is unbeaten in its last five matches, four of them wins.

Cincinnati hosts Miami on Wednesday.

Columbus visits Nashville on Wednesday.

FC Cincinnati is looking to extend its win streak with a victory over cross-state rivals the Columbus Crew in Saturday's Hell is Real derby at TQL Stadium.

The Orange and Blue (13-5-3) currently sit atop the Eastern Conference, while the Crew (10-3-8) lurk not too far behind.

Cincinnati has won four straight coming into the weekend, most recently defeating Chicago 2-1 at TQL. Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The last meeting ended tied 1-1.

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The action starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be available on Apple TV. Tickets are still available and can be purchased through the team here.

FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander da Silva Ferreira and defender Miles Robinson were named to the 2025 MLS All-Star Roster on Wednesday, FC Cincinnati announced.

The All-Star Game takes place on July 23, when MLS All-Star players will take on a team of All-Stars from Liga MX at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

The All-Star roster is comprised of 30 players from throughout the league. Twelve players are chosen through a combination of fan, player and media voting, while two are selected by MLS Commissioner Don Garber. The final 16 players were chosen through designations by the All-Star team's head coach, Nico Estvez, who is the head coach of the host club, Austin FC.

Evander was voted onto the team, while Robinson was a coach's selection, FC Cincinnati said.

FC Cincinnati players have been chosen for the All-Star roster for the past four seasons.

This is the second time Evander has been chosen to the MLS All-Star roster but it's the first time since he's donned the Orange and Blue. FC Cincinnati signed the midfielder shortly after sending former FC Cincinnati MVP Luciano Acosta to Dallas earlier this year.

FC Cincinnati acquired $5 million, plus add-ons for Acosta's trade before entering into the largest cash-for-player trade in MLS history to acquire Evander. The club sent $12 million and up to $150,000 more in conditional performance-based incentives to Portland in exchange for the attacking midfielder.

In his first season with FC Cincinnati, Evander recorded 13 goal contributions 7 goals scored, 6 assists in his first 16 games with the team.

This is Robinson's second year in a row joining the MLS All-Star team he becomes the second FC Cincinnati player to be tapped for the team twice, after Acosta. Robinson was also the first FC Cincinnati player to take the pitch as a U.S. Men's National Team player during an Olympics.

The 2025 MLS All-Star roster by position and selection mechanism:

GOALKEEPERS (3)

DEFENDERS (8)

MIDFIELDERS (6)

FORWARDS / WINGERS (9)