FC Cincinnati 3–3 FC Dallas – A Six-Goal Epic Ends All Square

By Alonso Contreras

CINCINNATI, OH — In one of the most electrifying matches of the MLS season so far, FC Cincinnati and FC Dallas played out a pulsating 3–3 draw at TQL Stadium, a contest packed with goals, grit, drama, and no shortage of controversial moments. Gerardo Valenzuela looked to have sealed it late for the home side, but a stoppage-time header from Sebastien Ibeagha salvaged a point for Dallas in a game that saw momentum swing wildly from side to side.

First Half: Cincinnati Take Control Early

The match kicked off with high energy, and it was clear from the outset that Cincinnati intended to impose their will at home. Within the opening 10 minutes, the hosts had already carved out several opportunities, most notably a 28% xG header from Miles Robinson that missed narrowly, and a stinging shot from Pavel Bucha that forced Maarten Paes into action.

Cincinnati’s breakthrough came in the 30th minute when a flowing move down the right saw DeAndre Yedlin release Luca Orellano, whose cutback found Bucha in the center of the box. The Czech midfielder buried his right-footed effort with confidence into the heart of the goal (13% xG), giving the Orange and Blue a deserved 1–0 lead.

Then, just before halftime, Kévin Denkey was brought down by Dallas keeper Maarten Paes after a defensive lapse, and the referee pointed to the spot. Denkey calmly slotted the penalty to the bottom right corner with clinical precision (42'), doubling Cincinnati’s lead with a shot carrying an xG of 77%.

At the break, FC Dallas looked stunned. Down 2–0, their attacking rhythm had yet to ignite, and Cincinnati’s pressure was suffocating.

Second Half: Dallas Roar Back Into It

Whatever Dallas manager Nico Estévez said at halftime clearly struck a chord. Within five minutes of the restart, Dallas halved the deficit. Shaq Moore picked out Petar Musa on the right flank, and the Croatian striker smashed a right-footed shot into the upper-right zone of the goal from a difficult angle (50', 16% xG).

FC Cincinnati nearly responded immediately—Denkey and Kamara both tested Paes with headers from close range—but the Dallas keeper was equal to the task.

Then in the 68th minute, Dallas completed the comeback. A swift attacking move down the left saw Pedro Martins lay it off to Anderson Julio. The Ecuadorian took one touch to steady himself before lashing a shot into the top-left corner from the center of the box (35% xG), bringing the score to 2–2.

Late Drama: A Wild Finish in Cincinnati

With just under 15 minutes to go, both sides made attacking substitutions, injecting fresh legs into a game teetering on the edge.

Cincinnati’s breakthrough came in the 86th minute. After sustained pressure and a blocked shot from Valenzuela moments earlier, the young midfielder finally made his mark. A clever combination play saw him pick up the ball in the middle of the box and place a calm finish to the bottom-right corner past a helpless Paes (24% xG), sending the home crowd into rapture.

It looked like the winner. It should have been the winner.

But Dallas refused to fold.

In the second minute of added time (90+2’), FC Dallas equalized in stunning fashion. A well-placed corner from Pedro Martins was flicked on by Ramiro Benetti to the edge of the six-yard box, where Patrickson Delgado rose highest to nod it across goal. Sebastien Ibeagha met the ball with a thunderous header (9% xG), directing it into the left side of the net to tie the game at 3–3.

Key Performances

• Gerardo Valenzuela (FC Cincinnati): The super-sub changed the game with his creative presence and decisive goal.

• Sebastien Ibeagha (FC Dallas): Heroic at both ends, capped his night with the clutch stoppage-time equalizer.

• Maarten Paes (FC Dallas): Made a string of vital saves to keep his team in the game, especially in the second half.

• Pavel Bucha (FC Cincinnati): Controlled the midfield and opened the scoring with composure.

Match Stats Summary

Team	FC Cincinnati	FC Dallas
Goals	3	3
Shots (on target)	19 (8)	15 (6)
xG	2.51	1.96
Possession (%)	54	46
Corners	6	5
Yellow Cards	4	3

Final Whistle: A Point Earned or Two Lost?

This was a match that had everything—individual brilliance, defensive mistakes, tactical adjustments, and late-game heartbreak. FC Cincinnati will feel aggrieved not to have secured all three points after leading twice, but FC Dallas showed admirable resilience and never-say-die spirit.

As both sides leave with a point, fans of both clubs can at least agree on one thing: they were treated to an unforgettable MLS classic.