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FC Cincinnati midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela was in the right place at the right time in the 76th minute Saturday night, catching a crosser from forward Evander and volleying a right-footed game-winning goal against visiting Austin FC 2-1.

The win kept Cincinnati (8-3-1, 25 points) undefeated at home (5-0-1).

It didn’t take long for FC Cincinnati to get on the board. Evander, their leading scorer, lined a shot into the lower-right corner of the net in the 12th minute.

It was Evander’s team-leading seventh goal of the season. Cincinnati was much more aggressive in the first half than it was in its previous match, a 1-0 loss at New York City FC on Sunday.

Cincinnati kept Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver busy in keeping his team in the match.

But just like they did in the second half of their U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 matchup on Wednesday, Austin FC (5-6-1, 16 points) battled back in the second half.

They took only three minutes after the break to get an opportunity to tie the game, with a foul by Cincinnati defender Teenage Hadebe giving Austin forward Brandon Vazquez a penalty shot attempt in the 48th minute.

Vazquez, who played on FC Cincinnati’s 2023 team, which won the MLS Supporters’ Shield, buried the penalty shot to tie the game 1-1.

Hadebe was in the match as a substitute for Cincinnati defender and captain Matt Miazga, who exited late in the first half with hamstring tightness.

Both teams had opportunities to break the tie before Valenzuela’s goal kept FC Cincinnati tied with the Columbus Crew atop the Eastern Conference.

Stuver made five saves for Austin, while Roman Celentano had one for Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media

At the time this recap was submitted, there was no additional update on the 2023 MLS Defender of the Year.