Toronto FC II 3-1 Cincinnati II: Young Reds Bounce Back in MLS Next Pro Action

Toronto FC II produced a commanding second-half performance to defeat Cincinnati II 3-1 in MLS Next Pro on 18 July 2026. After a slow start that saw the visitors take the lead, the Canadian side responded with three unanswered goals to secure all three points at the BMO Training Ground.

Match Narrative

The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. Cincinnati II struck against the run of play in the 38th minute when forward Kevin Izdepski latched onto a long ball and slotted past Toronto goalkeeper Adisa De Rosario. Toronto responded well but could not find an equalizer before the break.

The home side emerged with renewed intensity after halftime. Head coach Gianni Cimini introduced midfielder Luca Petrasso, who immediately added energy to the midfield. Toronto equalized in the 54th minute through a well-worked team goal, finished by Kosi Thompson after a neat cutback.

Decisive Second Half

• 54' – Thompson fires low into the bottom corner (1-1).
• 71' – Petrasso pounces on a defensive error to slot home (2-1).
• 88' – Hugo Mbongue seals the win with a header from a corner (3-1).

Tactical Adjustments

Toronto switched from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-1-2 in the second half, allowing them to overload the midfield and press Cincinnati's back line more effectively. The visitors, who had been compact in the first period, were unable to cope with the increased intensity and were punished for a lapse in concentration on the second goal.

League Standings

With the win, Toronto FC II improve to 22 points from 16 matches, climbing to 7th in the Eastern Conference. Cincinnati II remain in 11th place with 16 points. The result keeps Toronto's playoff hopes alive, while Cincinnati will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling further adrift of the postseason places.