Cincinnati 3-3 Charlotte: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How the match unfolded

The opening goal came in the 2nd minute: Pavel Bucha for Cincinnati, set up by Tom Barlow. Charlotte levelled at 1-1 in the 7th minute through Liel Abada, set up by Allan Saint-Maximin. Charlotte turned it round: Pep Biel from the penalty spot made it 1-2 in the 17th minute. Cincinnati levelled at 2-2 in the 51st minute through Kévin Denkey, set up by Andrei Chirilă. Idan Toklomati made it 2-3 to Charlotte in the 55th minute, set up by Rodolfo Aloko. Cincinnati levelled at 3-3 in the 90th minute (+1) through Kévin Denkey, set up by Bryan Ramírez. It came with the clock nearly run down, and it rescued a point.

It was 1-2 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.

Kévin Denkey scored twice.

The lead changed hands once.

The referee, P. Luce Lauziere, showed 3 yellow cards: 2 to Cincinnati and 1 to Charlotte.

Cincinnati: P. Noonan, 3-5-2 · Charlotte: D. Smith, 4-2-3-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 1.80 for Cincinnati and 2.72 for Charlotte.

Cincinnati scored about 1.2 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.

Charlotte created the better chances, 2.72 xG to 1.80, and still did not win. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

Cincinnati had 9 shots on target, Charlotte 4.

Charlotte's goalkeeper made 6 saves.

Cincinnati had 69% of the ball.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Cincinnati came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 2.1 and conceding 2.3 a match, with 1.81 expected goals for and 1.61 against, and had won 35% of their matches.

Charlotte came into it with 31 MLS matches played, scoring 1.8 and conceding 1.6 a match, with 1.56 expected goals for and 2.11 against, and had won 42% of their matches.

Cincinnati vs Charlotte: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Kévin Denkey (Cincinnati), rated 8.6 by Sportmonks, with 2 goals.

Cincinnati

• Kévin Denkey 8.6 2 goals
• Pavel Bucha 7.7 1 goal
• Bryan Ramírez 7.5 1 assist
• Kenji Mboma Dem 7.5
• Samuel Mawuena Gidi 7.3

Charlotte

• Pep Biel 8.0 1 goal
• Rodolfo Aloko 7.3 1 assist
• Idan Toklomati 7.1 1 goal
• Liel Abada 7.0 1 goal
• Kristijan Kahlina 6.8

The lowest-rated starter was Roman Celentano at 6.0. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Cincinnati: Inter Miami vs Cincinnati Wednesday 28 October 2026 · MLS
• Charlotte: Charlotte vs CF Montréal Wednesday 28 October 2026 · MLS

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Cincinnati vs Charlotte

What was the score in Cincinnati vs Charlotte?

Cincinnati 3-3 Charlotte (half-time 1-2), MLS, Saturday 12 September 2026.

Who scored in Cincinnati vs Charlotte?

Pavel Bucha 2', Liel Abada 7', Pep Biel 17', Kévin Denkey 51', Idan Toklomati 55', Kévin Denkey 90+1'.

Did Moneyball predict Cincinnati vs Charlotte correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Cincinnati vs Charlotte?

Kévin Denkey, rated 8.6 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Cincinnati vs Charlotte?

P. Luce Lauziere.