Toronto FC (0W-2L-1T, 1 point) dropped a 2-0 road result to FC Cincinnati (2W-1L-0T, 6 points) at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Saturday night.

TFC made six changes from the side that started against Orlando City SC last weekend at Inter&Co Stadium. Head Coach Robin Fraser handed first starts of the 2025 season to Zane Monlouis, Nicksoen Gomis, Kosi Thompson, Matty Longstaff, Tyrese Spicer and Ola Brynhildsen, who came into the fray for Henry Wingo, Sigurd Rosted, Richie Laryea, Alonso Coello, Markus Cimermancic and Theo Corbeanu.

After an evenly contested opening 35 minutes in Ohio, TFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson pulled off an incredible, outstretched save to deny Luca Orellano’s effort from distance before Corey Baird’s rebound from close-range struck the post in the 39^th minute.

With the game locked at zero 20 minutes from the final whistle, the Orange and Blue were handed a lifeline when Tyrese Spicer was deemed to have handled the ball in the penalty box following an in-stadium video review. Togolese striker Kévin Denkey stepped up from 12 yards and converted the penalty kick to give the hosts the one-goal lead.

FC Cincinnati doubled their advantage fifteen minutes later when Japanese attacking midfielder Yuya Kubo ran onto Evander’s lofted through ball and found the bottom left corner with a powerful right-footed finish. The 88^th minute goal made it 2-0 on the night and helped the Orange and Blue secure the victory and all three points from TQL Stadium.

Toronto FC return home to host Chicago Fire FC in their Home Opener on Saturday, March 15. Kick-off from BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario is set for 2:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and on TSN in Canada.

LINEUPS

FC CINCINNATI – Roman Celentano; Alvas Powell, Miles Robinson (C), Teenage Hadebe (Gilberto Flores 60’), Lukas Engel (DeAndre Yedlin 60’); Tah Brian Anunga, Pavel Bucha, Luca Orellano (Evander 60’), Yuya Kubo, Corey Baird (Obinna Nwobodo 84’); Kevin Denkey (Sergio Santos 74’)

Substitutes Not Used: Evan Louro, Gerardo Valenzuela, Stiven Jimenez, Stefan Chirila

TORONTO FC – Sean Johnson; Zane Monlouis (Derrick Etienne Jr. 85’), Kevin Long, Nicksoen Gomis (Theo Corbeanu 73’); Kosi Thompson, Matty Longstaff, Deybi Flores (Alonso Coello 74’), Jonathan Osorio (C), Tyrese Spicer (Lazar Stefanovic 74’); Federico Bernardeschi, Ola Brynhildsen (Deandre Kerr 46’)
Substitutes Not Used: Luka Gavran, Kobe Franklin, Reid Fisher, Markus Cimermancic

MEDIA NOTES:

• Zane Monlouis and Ola Brynhildsen made their first starts for Toronto FC.