Second-half goals lift FC Cincinnati to win over winless Toronto FC

CINCINNATI - Robin Fraser is still waiting for his first win as Toronto FC coach. But he sees positives despite a tough start to the Major League Soccer season, with Saturday's 2-0 loss at FC Cincinnati leaving TFC with just one point from three games.

A rash of injuries to the backline, limited reinforcements and three straight road outings have not helped the Toronto cause. And the team is still adapting to the new coaching regime.

"What I do like is the fact that this team works and they fight," Fraser said after Saturday's game. "And I really do believe that it'll come together because of their mentality … From that standpoint, I'm proud of them. They've been working. They've been trying to apply everything that's being asked. I just know it will come around."

There were danger signs going into Saturday's match at TQL Stadium with Toronto (0-2-1), which opened the season with a 2-2 draw at D.C. United before falling 4-2 at Orlando, missing injured defenders Richie Laryea, Raoul Petretta, Sigurd Rosted and Henry Wingo.

But the backline of 34-year-old Kevin Long, 22-year-old Nicksoen Gomis (in his season debut) and 21-year-old Zane Monlouis (in his first MLS start) bent but didn't break until midway through the second half.

The game turned in the 69th minute when a cross by Brazil's Evander hit Tyrese Spicer's arm in the penalty box as the Toronto wingback jumped to block the ball. Cincinnati appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears until referee Ismir Pekmic, prompted by the video assistant referee, reviewed the play on the pitchside monitor and ultimately pointed to the spot.

Denkey, a Togo international who led the top-flight Belgian league with 34 goals over the last two seasons with Cercle Brugge, converted the 73rd-minute penalty.

"I think it was a tough one," Spicer said of the penalty call. "I didn't think personally it was a pen(alty) but that's out of my control."

Denkey has scored the winning goal in all three victories this season and has recorded a goal or assist in five of his first six games for Cincinnati across all competitions.

A second Cincinnati goal, by Yuya Kubo in the 78th, was waved off for offside. But the Japanese international doubled the lead in the 88th minute, put in alone on a rapid-fire counter-attack.

Cincinnati (2-1-0) outshot Toronto 13-6 (8-1 in shots on target). TFC's XG (team expected goals) was a meagre 0.4.

Toronto has never scored at TQL Stadium.

Fraser made six changes to his starting 11, inserting Spicer, Gomis, Kosi Thompson, Matty Longstaff and handing Norwegian striker Ola Brynhildsen and Monlouis their first starts.

To make up the numbers, Toronto signed TFC 2 defender Reid Fisher, taken in the first round (23rd overall) out of San Diego State, to a short-term contract.

Once again there was no place in the Toronto matchday squad for out-of-favour Italian star Lorenzo Insigne.

Cincinnati is in the midst of a congested stretch of eight games in 24 days with Saturday's match sandwiched between CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 mid-week games against Mexico's Tigres.

Cincinnati led the dance for most of the first half with Toronto 'keeper Sean Johnson making several good saves

A foul against Cincinnati saved Toronto in the 28th minute, negating a goal by Kubo after he hit the post and knocked home his own rebound. The home side came close again in the 31st on a counter-attack, after an errant pass by Monlouis, but was unable to get a foot to a low cross in front of goal.

Argentine forward Lucas Orellano, in his first start of the season after a hip injury, was a dangerous man for Cincinnati in his 60-minute showing.

For Toronto, Brynhildsen did not get much service but looked lively in his 45 minutes. He was withdrawn at the break due to a lack of match fitness.

Toronto's first shot on target came in the 47th minute from Thompson, after a fine run by Spicer, but it did not trouble Cincinnati 'keeper Roman Celentano. Toronto threatened again in the 52nd minute on another lung-busting run from Spicer but his cross was cleared. 

Spicer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft from Trinidad and Tobago, grew into the game and had a spirited battle with Jamaican international Alvas Powell all evening.

Lazar Stefanovic, an 18-year-old defender, came on in the 74th minute for Toronto. 

Cincinnati improved to 8-4-1 all-time against TFC, the club’s most wins against any club in regular-season play. Coach Pat Noonan is 6-0-1 against Toronto with Cincinnati.

Up next, Toronto returns home for its home opener next Saturday against the Chicago Fire.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 8, 2025.