FC Cincinnati rallied to win another Major League Soccer thriller Aug. 1, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 4-2 at TQL Stadium.
Cincinnati is 7-6-5 for 26 points. San Jose (10-4-4, 34 points) falls to second place in the Western Conference.
Evander continued his MVP-caliber play with a goal and three assists. The winning goal was one of the best of his career, as he fired a rocket from 37 yards away from the right side of the field inside the left post. It was his 11th goal of the season. Obinna Nwobodo and Ender Echenique were given assists for setting up Evander with the ball.
That capped another late comeback for Cincinnati, who trailed 2-1 with 10 minutes left in regulation. Now, 19 of the team’s 26 points have come from a trailing position.
Cincy now has 15 points after conceding the first goal, putting them in first place in the league after tonight.
Tom Barlow, Ayoub Jabbari and Bryan Ramirez also scored for Cincinnati.
Here's what we learned from FC Cincinnati's win:
Another wild game between FC Cincinnati and San Jose
Cincinnati improves to 3-1 all-time against the Earthquakes, and have won the last three matchups.
The last two were full of drama as well.
On Sept. 10, 2022, FC Cincinnati’s 6-0 win over the Quakes marked the largest margin of victory in an MLS match in club history. FCC’s six goals scored that night set a club record in MLS play, accomplished two other times since (July 6, 2024 vs Miami; May 23, 2026 vs Orlando). That win played a big role in propelling Cincinnati to its first MLS playoff berth.
The last meeting between Cincinnati and San Jose in 2024 was much like tonight’s. FCC’s Yuya Kubo entered as a second-half substitute and scored his first and only MLS hat trick in just nine minutes between the 78th and 87th minutes, the fourth-fastest hat trick in MLS history and the eighth to be scored by a substitute, in a 4-2 win.
Under Noonan, FC Cincinnati is now 19-5-6 against Western Conference opponents in MLS play. Cincy faces Seattle Sounders Aug. 22 at TQL Stadium and plays at Houston Sept. 19.
San Jose drops to 6-2-2 on the road this season. They came in with at least two more road wins than any other team in the league except Miami (8-1-1).
Evander sets more milestones
Evander’s assist on Ramirez’s goal was his 100th MLS goal contribution in his 104th game in the league. He is the fifth-fastest player in MLS history to reach 100 goal contributions, only behind Lionel Messi (64), Sebastian Giovinco (95), Robbie Keane (96) and Carlos Vela (98). He ended the night with 103.
Evander now has a goal contribution in eight consecutive games, one short of Luciano Acosta's club record. He set a new club record with an assist in five straight games.
His winning goal was his sixth from outside the box this season. He led the league in that category entering the weekend. It is his 21st such goal since 2024.
Bryan Ramirez gets first FC Cincinnati goal
Bryan Ramirez has played sparingly since the World Cup as he recovers from a minor injury.
Back in the starting lineup at left wingback, he scored his first goal in a Cincinnati uniform to tie the game 1-1 in the 33rd minute.
He was left wide open on the left side of the 18-yard box when his defender double-teamed Evander. Evander found him and he beat the keeper 1-on-1. Evander and Kenji Mboma Dem were given assists on the play.
Different lineup sets up explosive first half for FC Cincinnati
With Ramirez on the left wing, and Echenique on the right wing, Cincinnati made a lot of things happen in transition in the first half. Multiple times in the first half, Echenique moved over to the left side in proximity to Ramirez, confusing the SJ defense.
Their presence opened up opportunities for Bucha and Mboma Dem. Bucha had two rocket shots go over the crossbar, and Mboma Dem had at least four shots that were saved or just missed outside the post. Obinna Nwobodo also got a couple good shots off that were blocked.
Cincinnati had 13 shots in the first half, five on target. San Jose had six shots, one on target.
Cincinnati finished with 24 shots to 12 for San Jose.
FC Cincinnati lineup notes
Cincinnaati’s only unavailable players were Matt Miazga and Gerardo Valenzuela. Valenzuela has a two-game suspension after a red card against Columbus July 25. He will sit out the Aug. 15 game at Orlando as well. Miazga was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Without Miazga, Miles Robinson started in the middle of the back line. Samuel Gidi and Kyle Smith also started in the back.
Without Valenzuela, Pavel Bucha moved back inside to the midfield after starting several games on the right wing. Obi Nwobodo was beside him. Bryan Ramirez and Ender Echenique took their natural spots on the wings.
Per usual, Evander started up front with Denkey and Kenji Mboma Dem as strikers.
Tom Barlow scores 6th MLS goal
Tom Barlow tied the game in the 80th minute, beating Angus Gunn in transition, slipping the ball inside the near post. The ball deflected off the inside of the post and went in. Evander set up the play with a no-look pass to him running down the left side.
It is Barlow’s sixth goal in MLS play this season and ninth in all competitions. Teenage Hadebe was also given an assist on the play.
Defensive struggles continue
Cincinnati allowed two or more goals for the seventh consecutive game and 14th out of the last 16, in all competitions.
In that span, Cincinnati has allowed 48 goals, three per game, with one clean sheet, a 2-0 win over Red Bull New York April 25.
What’s next for FC Cincinnati?
FC Cincinnati begins the 2026 Leagues Cup by hosting Pachuca 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at TQL Stadium. It will be the first of three games Cincinnati hosts against teams from Mexico’s Liga MX, which just began a new season. Pachuca, in eastern Mexico near Mexico City, has a win and two losses early on in the new campaign after losing 2-1 to León Aug. 1.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What we learned from another wild FC Cincinnati win over San Jose
