CINCINNATI — FC Cincinnati may have settled for a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami on Wednesday night, but the match provided another reason for optimism as the regular season approaches its conclusion. Two players who aren't necessarily expected to carry the scoring load delivered two monumental goals, including one of the most electrifying individual efforts of Cincinnati's season.
Kenji Mboma Dem's 80th-minute equalizer was something special. After receiving a pass from Evander on the right wing, Mboma Dem attacked his defender with a series of quick stepovers, creating just enough space inside the penalty area to unleash a left-footed, bending shot into the top-left corner.
It was the kind of goal that makes goalies look helpless. Mboma Dem created the shooting opportunity with his footwork, left his defender off balance, and finished with precision. Against a Miami team that had controlled much of the second half, it gave Cincinnati new life.
The goal also carried historical significance. It was Cincinnati's 65th of the MLS season, breaking the club's previous single-season record of 64, set in 2022.
Six minutes later, Samuel Gidi delivered another memorable moment. The defender's first career goal for FC Cincinnati briefly put the Orange and Blue in position to take all three points.
The move began with Kévin Denkey, who played the ball forward to Evander as Cincinnati broke out of its own half. Evander carried the attack down the left before finding Tom Barlow, who initially looked to shoot before laying the ball back to Gidi. The defender arrived behind the attack and struck a first-time, left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner, giving Cincinnati a stunning 2-1 lead.
Although Miami equalized four minutes later, Gidi's finish showed another dimension to an offense that has now scored a club-record 66 goals this season. Both Cincinnati goals came from players outside the team's established group of attacking stars, which is encouraging with the postseason approaching.
For a team featuring established attacking threats such as Evander and Kévin Denkey, getting goals from other players makes Cincinnati far more dangerous. Opponents cannot concentrate exclusively on the usual scoring options if players such as Mboma Dem and Gidi are capable of producing moments like Wednesday's.
Evander also deserves credit for his role in the comeback, providing the assist on Mboma Dem's goal and the secondary assist on Gidi's. Even without scoring, Cincinnati's captain helped create both opportunities during a remarkable six-minute stretch.
The late equalizer was disappointing, especially after Cincinnati had worked so hard to take the lead. But the Orange and Blue still earned a valuable road point and remain in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with two regular-season matches remaining.
More encouraging was the way those goals developed. Mboma Dem produced an outstanding individual effort, while Gidi finished a well-executed team attack. If Cincinnati can continue getting contributions from different players, its offense becomes far harder to contain as the club fights to secure a place in the playoffs.
