FC Cincinnati has booked its spot in the MLS Cup playoffs for the fourth season in a row, and they didn’t do it the easy way. Evander scored in the 98th minute to hand the orange and blue a 2-1 win over Nashville SC at TQL Stadium. The result snapped a two-game winless streak and pushed Cincinnati into second place in the Eastern Conference on 55 points. Nashville, beaten in this direct clash, stayed on 50 points in fourth and walked off with more questions than answers.
Brenner finds the net, Surridge responds
The breakthrough didn’t arrive until the second half, and it came with its own story. In the 73rd minute, Luca Orellano cut out a play in midfield, and Evander picked up the loose ball with room to drive forward. He slipped a pass to Brenner, back with the club since last month but still searching for a goal. The Brazilian forward finally got it, his first since March 2023, and made it 1-0.
Nashville struck back not long after. In the 84th minute, Tyler Boyd controlled a long ball and crossed for Sam Surridge. The MLS Golden Boot leader did what he’s been doing all season, finishing efficiently for his 21st goal. At 1-1, it looked like both sides would settle for a draw, but the match still had one last twist.
Evander makes it count
Deep into stoppage time, in the 98th minute, Ender Echenique won the ball wide and fed Pavel Bucha, who drew his marker and played it back at just the right moment. Echenique whipped in a cross, and there was Evander, completely unmarked. He lined it up and drilled a right-footed shot into the top corner, sealing the win.
That strike wasn’t only decisive for the scoreboard. It was Evander’s 21st of the season, pulling him level with Luciano Acosta as the club’s single-season scoring leader. It also marked the ninth match in 2025 where he led the team with multiple goal contributions.