Tyrese Spicer scored in the second half to help Orlando City battle to a 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati at Inter.co Stadium on Saturday night. Spicer scored in his third consecutive MLS match as both sides returned to MLS play after failing to advance in the Leagues Cup tournament.
Cincinnati (7-6-6, 27 points) scored first and Orlando (6-10-3, 21 points) equalized early in the second half as both teams earned a point.
“It was a very tough team, tough game, as we expected against Cincinnati. It’s always like this,” Orlando interim head coach Martín Perelman said. “Taking into account the opponent and the game and everything, I think the effort of the players was there, and we need to take the point and move forward because this league is long and we are still there.”
Pavel Bucha opened the scoring in the 23rd minute for Cincinnati. Orlando midfielder Joran Gerbet, making his first start of the season, blocked a shot with his face, but play was allowed to continue and Bucha buried the loose ball to put Cincinnati ahead 1-0.
Spicer found the equalizer in the 48th minute. Justin Ellis played Spicer through, and Spicer dribbled past a diving defender and around goalkeeper Roman Celentano to make it 1-1.
It was Spicer’s career-high fifth goal this season with assists from 19-year-old rookie Ellis — his sixth — and Iván Angulo — his eighth.
“I thought it was going to go more in the air rather than on the ground, but I just had to turn the jets on to get there,” said Spicer, who finished with five shots. “Once I was one-on-one with a keeper, I had a good feeling. He’s a good keeper. I think he would have guessed where I was gonna shoot, so I was like, ‘Let me try to go around him,’ and it worked out.”
Cincinnati thought it had a penalty in the 53rd minute when referee Tori Penso blew the whistle. A VAR check determined Evander initiated the contact. Penso rescinded the penalty and showed Evander a yellow card for simulation.
Perelman managed his substitutions well, making timely decisions to shore up his team. Marco Pašalić came on at halftime and immediately helped the Lions get on the front foot. After the equalizer, Wilder Cartagena entered to add defensive solidity alongside Luis Otávio in midfield.
“I think Luis, today he did an amazing game, and he put his heart on the field,” Perelman added. “He’s so young, and it’s impressive the way he played.”
FC Cincinnati player Evander takes a spill in front of Orlando City’s Ivan Angulo during Saturday’s match in Orlando. The contest ended in a 1-1 draw. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
The Lions had five shots on target — three from Ellis, the goal from Spicer and one from Antoine Griezmann.
Maxime Crépeau finished with two saves for Orlando City, which is 2-1-1 in MLS play since the World Cup break ended.
Celentano stopped four shots for Cincinnati, which is 3-1-1 over its last five matches.
Orlando City hosts the Chicago Fire and Poland star Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Orlando City unveils new kit
Orlando City players competed in Saturday’s match wearing the team’s third kit, as part of the adidas x MLS Archive Collection.
Known as the “Orlando Original,” the new third kit celebrates the Orlando’s rich soccer heritage by combining elements from the club’s history with inspiration from the 1994 World Cup, which brought the global game to Orlando, team officials said in a news release.
The kit pays tribute to Orlando’s first pro soccer team, the Orlando Lions from the 1980s, and the red uniforms are a nod to Orlando City’s 2011 USL Pro championship-winning team. It’s the first time the team has worn read since it joined MLS.
Orlando fans cheer during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando head coach Martin Perelman acknowledges fans before the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Joran Gerbet (35) tries to stop Cincinnati player Evander (10) during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer from The Wall during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (71) leaps, but can’t stop a Cincinatti goal from scoring during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano (18) leaps for the ball during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Both teams line up on the field before the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
FC Cincinnati player Evander takes a spill in front of Orlando City’s Ivan Angulo during Saturday’s match in Orlando. The contest ended in a 1-1 draw. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Griffin Dorsey (24) leaps to head the ball during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando City’s David Brekalo, left, and FC Cincinnati’s Kevin Denkey go for the ball simultaneously during Saturday night’s MLS match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando. The clubs played to a 1-1 draw. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann (7) eyes the ball during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Cincinnati player Kevin Denkey (9) leaps to control the ball during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando fans cheer during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando’s starting 11 players pose before the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Justin Ellis moves the ball during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Fans hold signs during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Griffin Dorsey moves the ball during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando head coach Martin Perelman, right, coaches players during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau yells during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Griffin Dorsey controls the ball during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando player Antoine Griezmann runs across the pitch during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan coaches during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Orlando players are photographed before the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
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Orlando fans cheer during the FC Cincinnati at Orlando City MLS Soccer match at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, August 15, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)