Short-handed Cincinnati score late to salvage 1-1 draw with Toronto FC

The tie extended TFC’s unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2) and improved the club’s overall record to three wins, two draws and two losses for 11 points. Cincy now has two wins, one draw and four draws. The Reds have not lost in 11 straight games at BMO Field.

“We’re definitely not happy (with the final score) but we’re not really too hard on ourselves,” said TFC goalkeeper Luka Gavran, a native of Hamilton. “Obviously we wanted three points and we missed out on that. But we’re gaining points and it’s better than last year (when) we weren’t doing that.

“We just have to get our heads right and get back at it Monday,” added Gavran, adding that the players are feeling optimistic about the direction the team is going this season.”

Cincinnati fell behind 1-0 in the 83rd minute after giving up an own goal when centre back Gilbert Flores directed the ball over the line, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead. The ball was directed toward the box by TFC’s Josh Sargent before Flores accidentally put it past his goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

Possession in the match was just about even with both squads managing four shots on target.

Gavran made a huge save in the sixth minute on Tom Barlow to keep the score 0-0 early in the match. In extra time in the first half, Gavran dove to punch the ball out of harm’s way after a header by Cincinnati’s Matt Miazga.

Gavran picked up where he left off in the second half, making a great save of a corner kick at the far post on a header by former TFC defender Nick Hagglund in the 54th minute.

The Reds had a glorious opportunity to take the lead in the 58th minute when left wing Daniel Salloi fed Josh Sargent with a great forward pass in the box and Sargent shot it just wide of the goal from in-close.

A number of Cincinnati players earned the wrath of the fans at BMO Field with constant embellishment. In the 70th minute, referee Ricardo Fierro appeared to lose patience with Cincy’s antics, issuing a yellow to striker Kevin Denkey for his dive in the TFC end of the field. One minute later, Denkey picked up a second yellow and was issued a red card, giving Toronto a man-advantage with over 20 minutes left in the game. Denkey was booed as he left the field.

The Reds lost midfielder Djordje Mihailovic for eight weeks with a pelvic stress fracture, the club signing TFC II standouts — forward Jahmarie Nolan, 16, and 18-year-old defender Richard Chukwu — to short-terms agreements for Saturday’s game. TFC was also without solid centre-back Walker Zimmerman, who was a game-day scratch with a calf issue.

Fraser said not having Mihailovic and Zimmerman was a big loss for the Reds but refused to use their absence as an excuse for not picking up the win.

“I thought we started off really well, had really good control, spent a lot of time in their part of the field but in those moments we didn’t create enough actual danger,” the coach said. “And then after about 25 minutes, it felt like the game just kind of went back and forth and we didn’t have the control that we did (early). So that was a little bit disappointing.”

The Reds host Austin FC on Saturday, April 18 at BMO Field.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2026.

Steve Buffery, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Short-handed Cincinnati score late to salvage 1-1 draw with Toronto FC

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