FC Cincinnati kicked off the 2025 Leagues Cup with a win that already feels historic for the club. At TQL Stadium, backed by their fans, the Orange and Blue edged Monterrey 3-2 and finally got past a rival that had been a stumbling block in recent meetings. It was the first time the American side defeated the Rayados, after last year’s painful elimination in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Evander stole the spotlight, scoring once and setting up two more. With that, he reached 18 goals this season, matching Brenner’s tally from 2022 and climbing to third on the club’s single-season scoring list.
Evander leads and delivers
The breakthrough came in the 31st minute after Valenzuela and Orellano worked the ball through traffic. The cross found Evander near the top of the box, he slipped past his marker with a quick feint, and blasted home to make it 1-0. Monterrey, though, struck back right before halftime. Canales tried from distance, the ball bounced off two defenders, and wrong-footed the keeper to level the match.
Right after the restart, Cincinnati took control again. In the 53rd minute, Evander and Orellano exchanged passes until the Argentine broke free. One-on-one with Cárdenas, he skipped around the keeper and finished coolly for 2-1. Monterrey looked for a way back but couldn’t break through a midfield run entirely by Evander, who dictated the pace every time Cincinnati pushed forward.
As the clock wound down, the Brazilian midfielder produced one more moment of class. From the edge of the box, he slipped an outside-foot pass to Bucha. The Czech midfielder brought it down and hammered it past the keeper, stretching the lead late on.
Late drama and a win to remember
Monterrey still had time to cut the deficit. In stoppage time, Moxica swung in a pinpoint cross and Berterame rose highest to head it in. The goal created some nerves, but the final whistle soon followed and sealed Cincinnati’s victory.
This result carries plenty of meaning. It keeps the club’s streak alive, now three straight Leagues Cup openers with a win. And just as important, it finally broke the spell against Monterrey, one of Liga MX’s most established teams.