On Sunday night at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium in Highland Heights, Kentucky, FC Cincinnati 2 suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat against CT United FC in the opening match of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season. The loss marked a difficult start for FC Cincinnati 2 as they aimed to launch their campaign with a strong performance.
Early CT United Lead and Equalizer from FC Cincinnati 2
CT United broke the deadlock just before halftime when Robbie Mora scored from the edge of the area in the 45th minute, assisted by Steven Sserwadda, who earned the assist on CT United’s inaugural goal. FC Cincinnati 2 responded in the 71st minute with Stefan Chirila converting a penalty kick after Dilan Hurtado won a foul inside the CT United box, leveling the score at 1-1. Chirila, aiming to continue his form from last season when he scored nine goals, opened his account for 2026 with this finish.
Late Goals Secure CT United Win
CT United regained the lead quickly as Alex Monis netted a goal in the 78th minute, followed by a late strike from Ibrahim Kasule in stoppage time (90th minute) to seal the 3-1 triumph. These two decisive goals prevented FC Cincinnati 2 from mounting a comeback and solidified CT United’s debut victory in the league.
Debuts and Lineup Adjustments Mark FC Cincinnati 2’s Opening Match
The match featured nine players making their first appearance for FC Cincinnati 2, including Noah Gassan from the FC Cincinnati Academy. Gassan entered at halftime in place of Deiver Mosquera and played the entire second half. The team’s starting lineup also included Bryan Dowd, Will Kuisel, Andrei Chirila, captain Michael Sullivan, Leonardo Orejarena, Yair Ramos, Ayoub Lajhar, Jack Mize, Stefan Chirila, and Charlie Holmes.
Game Statistics and Discipline Overview
The visitors dominated several statistical categories, outshooting FC Cincinnati 2 by 18 to 6 and registering six shots on goal compared to Cincinnati’s single attempt on target. CT United also led in corner kicks, with seven to four, while the fouls counted were 15 for FC Cincinnati 2 and 10 for CT United. Defensively, FC Cincinnati 2 made two saves, whereas CT United’s goalkeeper was not tested. The match featured yellow cards for CT United players Jahvar Stephenson (34th minute), Robbie Mora (69th minute), and Alex Monis (82nd minute), underlining a competitive and physical encounter.
Upcoming Match and Stakes for FC Cincinnati 2
Following this setback, FC Cincinnati 2 will travel to face Philadelphia Union II at Subaru Park on Sunday, March 8, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The squad will seek to rebound and build momentum early in the season. This upcoming road match will be streamed live on MLSNEXTPro.com and the OneFootball platform, offering fans a chance to follow the team’s progress closely.
Officiating and Match Environment Details
The game was officiated by referee Edson Carvajal, assisted by Zachary McWhorter and Art Arustamyan, with Promise Adebayo-Ige serving as fourth official. The weather was clear and cool, with temperatures around 41 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff, creating ideal playing conditions for both teams.
