Late Evander Penalty Completes Stunning 4–4 Comeback for FC Cincinnati at NYCFC

New York City FC and FC Cincinnati produced an MLS classic on Matchday 9, sharing eight goals in a breathless 4–4 draw on April 22, 2026.

The hosts seized control early through Nicolás Fernández Marcau. The forward opened the scoring on 20 minutes, then restored NYCFC’s lead in the 35th minute after Kevin Denkey had briefly pulled Cincinnati level. Fernández Marcau’s second came via a neat combination with veteran playmaker Maxi Moralez, sending New York into halftime with momentum.

MLS FINISHED

2026-04-22 23:30

New York City FC

4 - 4

FC Cincinnati

Matchday 9 REGULAR_SEASON

Right after the interval, Agustin Ojeda appeared to put NYCFC in command. His 53rd-minute strike, set up by Aiden O’Neill, stretched the advantage to 3–1. Though Cincinnati had already been forced into an early defensive reshuffle when Alvas Powell replaced Teenage Hadebe in the 23rd minute, they refused to fold.

Denkey dragged the visitors back into the contest in the 65th minute, finishing a move created by substitute Gerardo Valenzuela to make it 3–2. NYCFC answered again in the 79th minute, when substitute Talles Magno converted from an Ojeda assist to restore a two-goal cushion at 4–2.

Cincinnati’s bench proved decisive late on. Andrei Chirilă, introduced at halftime, struck in the 90+2 minute from a Pavel Bucha assist to give the visitors hope at 4–3. Deep into stoppage time, Evander completed the comeback from the penalty spot in the 90+5 minute, capping a remarkable turnaround.

The visitors also collected three yellow cards, all after the interval, shown to Gilberto Flores, Kyle Smith and Brian Anunga. New York made several late changes, including the introduction of Keaton Parks and Talles Magno on 72 minutes, but could not close the game out.

Beyond goals, cards and substitutions, detailed match statistics and further events were not available at the time of writing.

For more on MLS and full match context, visit the Ballaxy MLS page or the match center for this game here.

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MLS Standings

Season: 2026

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Form
1	Nashville SC	10	7	2	1	21	6	15	23	D W W W L
2	New England Revolution	10	6	1	3	18	12	6	19	W D W W W
3	Internacional CF Miami	11	5	4	2	22	19	3	19	L D W W D
4	Chicago Fire FC	10	5	2	3	19	11	8	17	L W D W W
5	D.C. United SC	11	4	3	4	13	15	-2	15	W W D D L
6	FC Cincinnati	11	4	3	4	22	25	-3	15	W W D D D
7	Charlotte FC	11	4	2	5	18	19	-1	14	L L L W L
8	Toronto FC	11	3	5	3	18	20	-2	14	D L D D D
9	New York City FC	11	3	3	5	19	18	1	12	L L D L L
10	Columbus Crew SC	11	3	3	5	16	16	0	12	L W W L D
11	New York Red Bulls	11	3	3	5	16	27	-11	12	L L D L D
12	Atlanta United FC	11	3	1	7	12	18	-6	10	W W L L L
13	Orlando City SC	11	3	1	7	16	32	-16	10	W L W L D
14	Montreal Impact FC	10	3	0	7	14	23	-9	9	L W W L L
15	Philadelphia Union	11	1	3	7	9	17	-8	6	D L D D W
1	San Jose Earthquakes	11	9	1	1	26	7	19	28	D W W W W
2	Vancouver Whitecaps FC	10	8	1	1	26	6	20	25	D W W W W
3	Los Angeles FC	11	6	3	2	19	8	11	21	D W D L L
4	Seattle Sounders FC	9	6	2	1	13	5	8	20	D W W W
5	Minnesota United FC	11	6	2	3	14	16	-2	20	W L W W W
6	Real Salt Lake	10	6	1	3	19	14	5	19	W L L W W
7	FC Dallas	11	4	4	3	20	15	5	16	W L L D D
8	Houston Dynamo	10	5	0	5	13	18	-5	15	W L W W L
9	Colorado Rapids SC	11	4	1	6	22	19	3	13	L L D L W
10	Los Angeles Galaxy	11	3	4	4	16	17	-1	13	D W L D W
11	Austin FC	11	3	4	4	16	19	-3	13	W W L D L
12	San Diego FC	11	3	3	5	19	19	0	12	D L L L L
13	Portland Timbers	10	3	1	6	13	21	-8	10	L W L W L
14	St. Louis City	10	1	3	6	9	18	-9	6	L L L D D
15	Sporting Kansas City	10	1	2	7	8	26	-18	5	D L L L L