Evander, Denkey score for FC Cincinnati in 2-2 draw at Charlotte FC

Players work on their ball skills during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.

New players for the 2026 season, from left, Bryan Ramirez, Tom Barlow and Kyle Smith warm up during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.

Kevin Denkey with the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.

Tom Barlow passes the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.

La Salle graduate Kyle Smith plays the ball in his first game with the club as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.

FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium previewed it's 2026 food selections under Executive Chef Sheldon and local affiliates. President and Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, Jeff Berding, speaks at the event.

Bryan Ramirez of FC Cincinnati passes the ball as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026

Miles Robinson surveys the field as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026

Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; FC Cincinnati forward Ayoub Jabbari (99) keeps his eye on the ball as New England Revolution defender Mamadou Fofana (2) comes from behind during the first half at Gillette Stadium.

Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender Brayan Ceballos (3) celebrates his first goal during the first half on FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano (18) at Gillette Stadium.

Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender William Sands (23) and FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo (5) go for a loose ball during the first half at Gillette Stadium.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (right) heads the ball on goal during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (right) heads the ball on goal during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

FC Cincinnati fans in The Bailey section wave flags and cheer on the team during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander (10) reaches for his calf after suffering an injury during the first half against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

FC Cincinnati defender Nick Hagglund (4) passes forward during the first half of their MLS season opener against Atlanta United FC at TQL Stadium Feb. 21.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Players warm up during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Players work on their ball skills during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

New players for the 2026 season, from left, Bryan Ramirez, Tom Barlow and Kyle Smith warm up during FC Cincinnati training Feb. 20, 2026 at Mercy Health Training Center in Milford.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Kevin Denkey with the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Tom Barlow passes the ball as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

La Salle graduate Kyle Smith plays the ball in his first game with the club as FC Cincinnati beat O&M FC 4-0 in the first game of the Concacaf Champions Cup Feb. 18, 2026 in the Dominican Republic.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium previewed it's 2026 food selections under Executive Chef Sheldon and local affiliates. President and Co-CEO of FC Cincinnati, Jeff Berding, speaks at the event.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Bryan Ramirez of FC Cincinnati passes the ball as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Miles Robinson surveys the field as FC Cincinnati lost 1-0 at Minnesota United in Major League Soccer action Feb. 28, 2026

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; FC Cincinnati forward Ayoub Jabbari (99) keeps his eye on the ball as New England Revolution defender Mamadou Fofana (2) comes from behind during the first half at Gillette Stadium.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender Brayan Ceballos (3) celebrates his first goal during the first half on FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano (18) at Gillette Stadium.

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FC Cincinnati images from the 2026 season

Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution defender William Sands (23) and FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo (5) go for a loose ball during the first half at Gillette Stadium.

FC Cincinnati didn’t come from behind or get any stoppage-time magic May 9 at Charlotte FC. The Orange and Blue were in the rare position of squandering a lead in a 2-2 draw with Charlotte in Major League Soccer action at Bank of America Stadium.

Cincinnati, tied for fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference entering the day, is now 4-4-4 for 16 points. Charlotte remains a point behind them, 4-5-3 for 15 points. They remained winless all-time in Charlotte.

Cincinnati led 2-0 at halftime, but for the first time this season lost a lead in the second half after Charlotte scored two goals in quick succession in the first seven minutes of the second half. Cincy had made a habit of scoring late goals to earn a win or draw in recent weeks but couldn’t recreate that magic in the other Queen City.

Charlotte FC goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina can't quite make the save on a shot from FC Cincinnati forward Kévin Denkey in the first half at Bank of America Stadium.

It’s a key point as the Orange and Blue head into a busy stretch with a midweek game against Lionel Messi and reigning MLS Cup champion Inter Miami, then a long road trip to San Diego. Cincy is now unbeaten in its last six with two wins and four draws.

“It was a strong performance, a little bit overshadowed by a poor 10 minutes to begin the second half, that is the difference in the result,” FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. “But, on the road against a good Charlotte team, I thought there were a lot of good stretches, and ideas. The 10 minutes out of the break is a good lesson for how the momentum shifts, how we weren't clean on the ball.”

How the goals were scored between FC Cincinnati and Charlotte FC

Evander and Kevin Denkey scored late in the first half.

Evander's free kick from 20 yds was deflected by the keeper Kristijan Kahlina to Denkey for a tap-in, Denkey’s seventh goal of the season.

Evander scored himself from the same spot on a well-placed shot to the far top corner. He was left unmarked just outside the goal box and curled a shot past Kahlina that he couldn’t reach. It was Evander’s sixth goal in MLS play, all in the last four games. Having him score in the run of play and making things happen on set pieces are signs of him regaining his MVP form.

FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano makes the save with the help of defender Nick Hagglund (right) on a shot by Charlotte FC forward Idan Toklomati (on ground) in the first half at Bank of America Stadium.

“The free kick, which is something he was working on a lot over the last two weeks, and that paid off in that moment, and well played by Kevin to follow it up,” Noonan said. “The way we get the second goal is a longer stretch of good movement on the ball, good decision-making, and then that’s him in a spot to do something special, which not many players are capable of that.”

Cincy outshot Charlotte 11-5 and had five on target to zero for the home team.

Charlotte had six shots to two for Cincy in the second half, three on goal. Cincinnati did not get a shot on goal in the second half. Charlotte had 1.7 expected goals for the game to 1.4 for FCC.

Charlotte scored twice in less than two minutes early in the second half. Idan Toklomati headed in a cross by Matt Ream, scoring from close range to make it 2-1.

Moments later, Wilfried Zaha delivered a tough pass on the run in transition to Charlotte’s leading scorer, Pep Biel, who was running into the goal box. Biel fired a shot under the crossbar that Celentano couldn’t reach.

“I thought we did a good job after we conceded, and, really the last 30 minutes, it looked a lot like the first half,” Noonan said. “It wasn't like we were in total control, but when we had the ball, when we were moving the ball, we got into some good spots. They defended really well in the second half.”

Lineup notes

Matt Miazga returned to the starting lineup with Andrei Chirila and Nick Hagglund in the back. Pavel Bucha started again at right wingback, with Ender Echenique coming off the bench.

Kenji Mboma Dem got another start up front. Ayoub Jabbari missed the game with an injury taken this week. Kyle Smith was out with red card suspension.

What’s next for FC Cincinnati?

FC Cincinnati hosts Lionel Messi and Inter Miami 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 13 at TQL Stadium. Miami won 4-2 at Toronto May 9 and is 6-2-4 for 22 points, second in the Eastern Conference.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati's Evander, Denkey score in MLS draw at Charlotte FC