FC Cincinnati Outshines Inter Miami with Clinical 3-0 Performance
It doesn’t get any louder in Cincinnati than when the home team delivers a rout, especially against a star-studded squad like Inter Miami. On July 16, 2025, at TQL Stadium, FC Cincinnati went on the attack and never looked back, crushing Inter Miami CF 3-0 in a display that mixed grit with flair. While Miami walked onto the pitch with the likes of Lionel Messi, it was Cincinnati’s midfielder Evander who stole the show, scoring twice and pushing his blistering goal streak to five consecutive matches—something no one saw coming at the start of the season.
Gerardo Valenzuela wasted no time setting the tone. He pounced on a loose ball in the 16th minute, firing into the net and igniting the home crowd. For the rest of the first half, Cincinnati kept the pressure high, even as Inter Miami tried to find their rhythm. Messi, who usually needs just a hint of space to create danger, was frustrated by a recharged Cincinnati defense led by Miles Robinson and Matt Miazga.
Evander’s Star Shines Bright as Cincinnati Gains Momentum
The second half kicked off with Cincinnati still hungry for more, and Evander delivered. He buried his first in the 50th minute, finishing off a slick counterattack that left Miami’s backline scrambling. Twenty minutes later, he struck again, this time weaving past defenders before slotting home to put the game out of reach. That fifth goal in as many matches has people talking about him as one of the league’s most in-form midfielders—if not the pulse of Cincinnati right now.
Inter Miami entered the match with momentum, but struggled to cope with Cincinnati’s intensity and organization. Messi, usually the architect of stunning comebacks, ran into a defensive wall every time he touched the ball. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano came up big with a couple of key stops, while subs like Corey Baird and Sergio Santos gave Cincinnati fresh legs to kill off any hopes of a Miami revival.
The win mattered—and not just for the headlines. Cincinnati climbed to a 13-3-6 record, reaching 42 points and strengthening their position near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference. For Miami, who had arrived with an 11-5-3 tally and plenty of bravado, the defeat meant losing ground in a tight playoff hunt. Fans in Cincinnati left the stadium buzzing, especially about Evander’s relentless scoring streak and Valenzuela’s smart opening goal. Now, with this type of performance, Cincinnati looks like a team ready to make a deep postseason run.