Short-handed Cincinnati score late to salvage 1-1 draw with Toronto FC

Toronto FC defender Richie Laryea (22) and FC Cincinnati forward Tom Barlow (16) battle for the ball during first half MLS soccer action in Toronto on Saturday, April 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Down a man late in the match, a scrappy FC Cincinnati side scored a spectacular goal in added time to record a 1-1 draw against Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon.

Kenji Mboma Dem scored with a left-footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner with Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey sent off for picking up two yellow cards. The goal was assisted by Ayoub Jabbari, with the second assist by Samuel Gidi, after a quick counterattack up the field.

The draw extended TFC’s unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2). The run started with a 1-0 win at Cincinnati on Match 8.

Cincinnati fell behind 1-0 in the 83rd minute on an own goal when centre back Gilbert Flores directed the ball over the line, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead. The ball was directed towards the goal by TFC’s Josh Sargent before Flores accidentally put it past his goalkeeper, Roman Celentano.

Possession in the match was just about even with both squads managing four shots on target.

TFC goalkeeper Lula Gavran made a huge save in the sixth minute on Tom Barlow to keep the score 0-0 early. In extra time in the first half, Gavran dived to punch the ball out of harm’s way after a header by Cincinnati’s Matt Miazga.

The Hamilton native picked up where he left off in the second half, making a great save of a corner kick at the far post on a header by former TFC defender Nick Hagglund in the 54th minute.

The Reds had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 58th minute when left wing Daniel Salloi fed Sargent with a great forward pass in the box, but Sargent shot it just wide of the goal from in-close.

A number of Cincinnati players earned the wrath of the fans at BMO Field with constant embellishment. Finally, in the 70th minute, referee Ricardo Fierro issued a yellow card to Cincinnati striker Kevin Denkey for his dive in the TFC end of the field.

One minute later, Denkey picked up a second yellow and was issued a red, giving Toronto a man-advantage for over 20 minutes of play. Denkey was booed as he left the field.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2026.

Steve Buffery, The Canadian Press