Major League Soccer delivered one of its most chaotic fixtures of the season on Wednesday night, as New York City FC and FC Cincinnati played out a breathtaking 4-4 draw at Yankee Stadium in New York City.
What looked like a thrilling home win for much of the second half turned into a late collapse for NYCFC, with FC Cincinnati rescuing a point deep into stoppage time. In the end, both sides walked away with a result, but neither manager will feel entirely comfortable after a match that exposed brilliance in attack and fragility at the back.
New York City FC struck first in the 20th minute when Nicolás Fernández found the breakthrough, giving the home side an early lift. Cincinnati responded in the 32nd minute through Kévin Denkey, who brought the visitors level and briefly settled the contest.
That balance did not last long. Fernández struck again in the 35th minute to restore NYCFC’s lead, sending the hosts into the interval 2-1 ahead after an entertaining first half full of attacking intent and open spaces on the pitch.
NYCFC seemed to take control after the restart. Agustin Ojeda extended the advantage in the 53rd minute, and although Denkey grabbed his second goal of the night in the 65th minute to keep Cincinnati alive, the home side still appeared to have the fixture under control.
When Talles Magno made it 4-2 in the 79th minute, Yankee Stadium looked ready to celebrate a dramatic but deserved victory. NYCFC had enjoyed more of the ball, finishing with 55.4 percent possession, and consistently threatened going forward with 17 total shots and nine efforts on target.
But Cincinnati’s response in the dying moments completely changed the story. Substitute Andrei Chirila pulled one back in the 90’+2′ minute to make it 4-3, shifting momentum and setting up a frantic finish. Then, in the 90’+5′ minute, Evander kept his nerve from the penalty spot to complete a stunning comeback and level the match at 4-4.
It was a brutal ending for NYCFC, who had received a brace from Fernández and further goals from Ojeda and Talles Magno, only to see the points slip away in the final minutes. For Cincinnati, it was a show of resilience, with Denkey’s two-goal performance laying the foundation before Chirila and Evander delivered the late twist.
The numbers underscored just how open the fixture became. NYCFC registered 17 shots to Cincinnati’s 12 and put nine on target compared to six from the visitors. Cincinnati, however, were ruthless when the late opportunities arrived, turning pressure into a valuable draw.
In a league known for unpredictability, this was MLS at its most unforgiving and most entertaining. New York City FC will wonder how they let a two-goal lead vanish after the 90-minute mark, while FC Cincinnati will leave Yankee Stadium believing they earned their point through persistence and composure under pressure.
Goal scorers: Nicolás Fernández 20′, Kévin Denkey 32′, Nicolás Fernández 35′, Agustin Ojeda 53′, Kévin Denkey 65′, Talles Magno 79′, Andrei Chirila 90’+2′, Evander (penalty) 90’+5′.
