Late Heroics Lift FC Cincinnati to Thrilling 4-3 Victory Over CF Montreal
CINCINNATI — In a dramatic Sunday showdown, FC Cincinnati staged a stunning comeback to defeat CF Montreal 4-3, capping off a rollercoaster match with two decisive late goals. Despite playing a man down for the final half-hour, Cincinnati showed resilience and determination to secure their second win of the season.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 60th minute when Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson was shown a red card, leaving his team at a numerical disadvantage. But rather than falter, Cincinnati dug deep and delivered a memorable performance. Substitute Tom Barlow, who entered the game in the 77th minute, made an immediate impact by scoring a short-handed equalizer just three minutes later. It was Barlow’s first goal since joining FC Cincinnati, and it reignited the team’s hopes of salvaging the match.
The heroics didn’t stop there. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Kévin Denkey stepped up to seal the victory with a stunning unassisted goal. The striker, who scored 15 times last season, showcased his composure under pressure to secure the win and send the home crowd into euphoria.
The match was a tale of momentum swings from the outset. Montreal took the lead early when newcomer Wiki Carmona capitalized on assists from Prince Owusu and Bode Hidalgo to score in the 6th minute. Cincinnati responded in the 40th minute through Ender Echenique, who netted his first goal of the season with assists from Alvas Powell and Matt Miazga. Powell’s contribution marked a milestone, as he became just the fifth player in club history to reach 150 appearances.
Montreal regained the lead just before halftime when Owusu found the back of the net in the 45th minute. The forward’s goal—his third of the season—was assisted by Carmona and Iván Jaime.
Cincinnati showed their fighting spirit once again early in the second half. Ayoub Jabbari scored his first career goal in the 52nd minute, leveling the score at 2-2. Echenique and Pavel Bucha provided the assists, with Bucha notching his 13th assist in 70 career appearances.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Cincinnati goalkeeper Evan Louro stepped up with four crucial saves in his first start of the season. On the other side, Montreal’s Thomas Gillier matched Louro’s tally with four saves of his own.
The victory extends FC Cincinnati’s dominance over CF Montreal, improving their all-time record to 8-4-2. The eight wins against Montreal are the most Cincinnati has achieved against any opponent in club history.
Both teams now look ahead to their next matches on April 4. Montreal will travel to face the New England Revolution, while Cincinnati hits the road to take on the New York Red Bulls.
For FC Cincinnati, Sunday’s thrilling win serves as a testament to their resilience and determination, proving that even adversity can’t derail their pursuit of success.
Reported by Nexio News
