Coming into Sunday evening’s primetime match with Toronto, FC Cincinnati held a 9-4-1 record against the Reds all-time. However, Robin Fraser’s side wasn’t going to allow the past to define their present. A late second half goal saw the visitors bag all three points, their first goal in Cincinnati since 2020.

FIRST HALF:

The opening ten minutes of the match served as a statement of sorts for Toronto. The visitors won two corners and a free kick in a dangerous position. Fortunately, the defense stood tall, turning each effort away. FCC didn’t string together anything particularly dangerous until the 15th minute, when a attacking sequence ended with Ender Echenique going to ground on the edge of the Toronto box. Shouts for a foul fell on deaf ears, and Ender was subsequently given a yellow for delaying the restart. This yellow would prove to be pivotal later in the match, as manager Pat Noonan cited it as a factor in Ender’s subbing off in the 74th minute.

The sides traded dangerous attacks not long after, as Djordje Mihailovic fired a volley just wide of goal in the 29th minute; and Tom Barlow headed a cross from Echenique...