MLS Playoffs: Cincinnati and Minnesota Take 1-0 Leads in Series
FC Cincinnati secured a 1-0 win over Columbus Crew in their MLS playoff series opener, thanks to Kevin Denkey's 78th-minute goal.
Minnesota United's win was marked by near-misses, with Julian Gressel hitting the post for the Timberwolves and Danny Leyva hitting the left post for Seattle...
FC Cincinnati secured a 1-0 victory over Columbus Crew in the first game of their playoff series, thanks to a decisive goal from Kevin Denkey in the 78th minute. The win gives Cincinnati a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
The “Hell is Real” rivalry between the Ohio teams continued to heat up in the playoffs, with Denkey's goal proving to be the difference-maker. The 24-year-old Togolese forward has been in impressive form, scoring 15 goals in 29 regular-season appearances for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati's 1-0 win puts them in a strong position heading into the next game of the series, which takes place on Sunday in Columbus. The second-seeded FC Cincinnati will look to build on their momentum and take control of the series.
The winner of the series between the remaining teams will face either Inter Miami, led by Lionel Messi, or Nashville in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
In the night's other match, Minnesota United outlasted Seattle Sounders in a penalty shootout, winning 3-2 after the two teams played to a 0-0 draw in regulation. The Timberwolves' goalkeeper, Dayne St. Clair, made a crucial save on Seattle's Alex Roldan in the second round of the shootout, and when Cristian Roldan's shot hit the crossbar, the Sounders narrowly avoided defeat. With this win, Minnesota took the lead in their Western Conference series.
Game WON. ✅ pic.twitter.com/FzN75ctWlb
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) October 28, 2025
Minnesota United's win was marked by near-misses, with Julian Gressel hitting the post for the Timberwolves and Danny Leyva hitting the left post for Seattle. The match ultimately came down to a penalty shootout, which Minnesota won 3-2 after a scoreless draw in regulation.
The winner of the Minnesota-Seattle series will advance to the Western Conference semi-finals, where they'll face either top-seed San Diego FC or Portland Timbers. The series between San Diego and Portland is still ongoing, setting the stage for a potentially exciting matchup in the next round.
The journey continues. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/TWnxd0APIf
— FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) October 28, 2025
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