FC Cincinnati Douses Inter Miami’s Streak: Evander’s Record Night Ends Messi’s Momentum

FC CINCINNATI STUNS INTER MIAMI, ENDS MESSI & CO.'S WINNING STREAK

By Learn And Fun, FC Cincinnati Herald

CINCINNATI, OH — July 16, 2025. In a sensational night at TQL Stadium, FC Cincinnati delivered a 3‑0 blowout against Eastern Conference frontrunners Inter Miami CF, snapping the Herons’ five‑match winning run and silencing the star-studded visitors, led by Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.

A Hot Start Sets the Tone

Under heavy humidity and amidst a sold‑out crowd of 25,513, FC Cincinnati burst out of the gates. Defender Luca Orellano pressured the Miami backline before feeding Gerardo “Dado” Valenzuela. The young homegrown midfielder hit a crisp left‑footed strike into the bottom right corner in the 16th minute—his fourth goal of the season and a reminder of Cincinnati’s rising threats

Miami’s early survival relied heavily on goalkeeper Óscar Ustari, who pulled off a vitally early save from Kei Kamara. But Cincinnati’s pressure never relented

Defensive Masterclass & Messianic Struggles

Despite holding 56 % possession, Inter Miami looked flat in attack and off‑rhythm, with Messi unable to find his usual spark. Cincinnati’s back four and keeper Roman Celentano thwarted multiple efforts—including two notable saveslate in the first half

As the final whistle blew on the first half, 25,000 voices echoed in approval—having navigated the visitors’ most dangerous moments.

Evander’s Historic Brace Breaks Miami’s Resolve

The onslaught resumed after the break. In the 50th minute, Brazilian midfielder Evander carved a path through Miami’s midfield, absorbing pressure before unleashing a pinpoint strike to double the lead and seize club history—registering goals in five consecutive games, a Cincinnati record

Despite some breathless moments, Miami failed to respond. Twenty minutes later, Evander pounced on a rebound from Luca Orellano’s shot to make it 3‑0—capping one of the most complete individual displays seen in Ohio this season

Miami’s Missed Chances & Tactical Gaps

While Miami’s chances remained scarce—just two on target all evening—their setup never really gelled against Cincinnati’s pressing, which disrupted even Messi and Suárez .

Manager Tata Martino’s decision to field a midfield anchored by Busquets and Cremaschi didn’t have the desired effect. The visitors lacked cohesion and creativity, struggling to find passing lanes or press back against Cincinnati’s relentless counter‑attack

Celentano’s Clean Sheet & Cincinnati’s Statement

Roman Celentano pulled on a composure cloak between the posts, registering his seventh clean sheet of the MLS season. Together with a well‑organised defense, they kept Messi’s record goal streak at bay, giving Cincinnati an unearned boost in Eastern standings .

Stats Snapshot & Table Implications

Team	Record Before Match	Tonight’s Result	Record After Match	Points Gained
FC Cincinnati	14‑6‑3 (45 pts)	W 3‑0 home	15‑6‑3 (48 pts)	+3 ✔️
Inter Miami CF	11‑5‑3 (38 pts)	L 0‑3 away	11‑6‑3 (38 pts)	–0

Cincinnati climbs above Miami in the Supporters’ Shield race and eases the pressure on manager Pat Noonan. Meanwhile, Miami’s perfect balance of stars meets a moment of doubt heading into August .

Post‑Match Reflections

• Pat Noonan (FC Cincinnati coach) praised the "complete performance," especially Evander’s leadership and the team's tactical discipline .
• Tata Martino (Inter Miami coach) admitted defensively they “didn’t match Cincinnati’s intensity” and expressed deep frustration at the inability to “create chances for our attacking stars.” While Messi and Suárez stayed sharp, the overall display fell short .
• Messi’s streak ended, as he failed to score or assist, ending his MLS record run of matches with multiple goals in a row .

What This Means for the Season

This clash tells of two teams heading in different directions: Cincinnati riding a wave of momentum, confidence, and club history; Miami humbled but far from broken.

Cincinnati now holds the initiative with resumed confidence, eager to chase MLS’s top prize. Miami, with star power and playoff aspirations, faces a swing-or-miss moment—can they bounce back on the road and rediscover their offensive spark?

What's Next?

• FC Cincinnati returns to action next Saturday at Real Salt Lake, looking to string together road form and deepen their top-table contention .
• Inter Miami freshens their roster, looks to claw back points, and regroup for a key Eastern Conference showdown amid a congested summer schedule .

Final Thoughts

At TQL Stadium, intensity met execution: FC Cincinnati wrote a new chapter in club lore, while Inter Miami was left to regroup after a rare night in the wilderness. In MLS, the beautiful game shifts fast—and one night can change everything.