Inter Miami CF earned a 2‑2 draw against FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night, a result that left the Los Angeles‑based club in third place in the Eastern Conference. The match, played at Inter Miami’s home stadium, saw the team’s new signing Riquelme Fillipi net his first MLS goal in the 90th minute, salvaging a point after a late rally from the visitors.
The game began with Miami taking the lead when Luis Suárez found the back of the net in the 61st minute, giving the reigning MLS Cup champions a 1‑0 advantage. Cincinnati responded in the 80th minute when Kenji Mboma Dem struck a stunning long‑range shot, followed six minutes later by Samuel Gidi’s first MLS goal. Gidi’s strike came from a counterattack that caught the Inter Miami defense off guard, briefly leveling the score and creating a chance for the hosts to win the match.
The match’s final minutes were tense. Evander, a Cincinnati player, had a clear opportunity to secure a win with a shot from near the penalty area during stoppage time, but Inter Miami defender Ian Fray positioned himself in front of the ball and deflected it away. The ensuing corner for Cincinnati was ineffective, and the clock ran out, leaving the score at 2‑2.
The draw has significant implications for the Eastern Conference standings. New England’s 3‑2 victory over Red Bull New York earlier in the day pushed the Revolution to 58 points, two more than Miami, with only two games remaining. The upcoming Sunday clash between the two teams in Foxborough will be crucial for both clubs, as it could determine the No. 2 seed in the East and potentially the No. 2 seed in the MLS Cup playoffs.
Inter Miami’s next regular‑season match is against the New England Revolution, with the game scheduled for Sunday. The result will be pivotal for the teams’ playoff positioning. Meanwhile, MLS announced that next year’s sprint season will feature Cincinnati visiting Miami on February 19, marking the first game of the shortened season that will bridge the current calendar with the internationally aligned schedule set to begin in July 2027. Despite the missed opportunity to secure a win, the draw keeps Cincinnati’s playoff hopes alive, though they still require a victory at Miami and a loss by Columbus against Dallas to lock in a berth.