CINCINNATI, Ohio – A dramatic stoppage-time header from defender Alex Freeman rescued a crucial road point for Orlando City SC (14-7-10, 52 points), securing a 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati (18-9-5, 59 points) on Sunday night at TQL Stadium.
In a hard-fought battle that saw a combined 42 shots, both teams were held scoreless until the 73rd minute when Cincinnati’s Kévin Denkey broke the deadlock. Denkey finished a swift counter-attack, burying a low shot past Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to give the home side a late lead.
Just as it seemed Cincinnati would claim all three points, Orlando City staged a late rally. In the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, second-half substitute Tyrese Spicer delivered a perfect cross into the box, and Freeman rose highest to head the ball home for his sixth goal of the season, stunning the home crowd.
The result marks the second consecutive match in which the Lions have scored in added time to alter the outcome. Having already clinched their sixth straight MLS Cup Playoffs berth earlier in the weekend, the draw keeps Orlando in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Kévin gets us started. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/iSi5dJ5uJk
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) September 29, 2025
“The reaction from the players is outstanding,” said Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja. “Once more, the boys showed a character that has been established in this team and this club. So, we fought and we get this result that could have been better and also could have been worse in a difficult match.”
FC Cincinnati remains second in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the Philadelphia Union in the Supporters’ Shield race.
