1: (A few) Moments of Brilliance

FC Cincinnati's 2-2 draw against Inter Miami on Wednesday night wasn't the prettiest game, which the Orange and Blue absolutely deserve credit for. At times, it was a game that looked a little more like it was being played at the peak of summer in Miami summer than what appeared to be a lovely October night in Florida. Despite what the scoreline indicates, the game never really seemed to get going.

After the game, manager Pat Noonan said, "the elements and the opponent factor in, so a little bit warmer and again, like I said, the fatigue starting to creep in, that midweek that we have with the rescheduled game against D.C., you could see that taking its toll a little bit."

After Saturday's win over DC United, I wrote about Evander's ability to, when nothing else is really working, do something that wins a match. But unlike FCC's two previous games, the Orange and Blue weren't the only team with match winners on the field. Though there are probably arguments that Cincinnati's defenders should do slightly better on both of Miami's goals, sometimes you just have to accept that opponents can make really good plays, too. Suarez's opener fits that bill, especially, as does Riquelme Fillipi's equalizer.

Again, as in previous games, FCC found opportunities in transition, including the team's briefly held lead courtesy Samuel Gidi's first goal for the team. However, Ian Fray denied Evander in second half stoppage time in another transition moment (which I don't think was a handball), and the points were split.

It might not have felt great, but playing a very good team tough on the road isn't something we've seen all that much this season. At a time when every point matters, this one is no exception even if three would've been much nicer.

2: Defensive solidity continues

Although Miami scored the aforementioned two goals, Wednesday night was another solid defensive night from a FCC team that hadn't had very many throughout the season. The Orange and Blue again succeeded in denying its opponents many good scoring opportunities, even with rotated squad and a series of patchwork center backs.

FCC's defenders won a lot of clearances as they are well equipped to do, but in the first half, the Orange and Blue's press created a good bit of chaos, preventing Miami from getting the ball to its most dangerous players.

Knock on wood but, FCC is actually defending a lot better than at any point in 2026. For the fifth straight game, the Orange and Blue held its opponents under 1.5 expected goals, the first such stretch of the season.

After the calamitous game against the Philadelphia Union in early September, FCC's defense appears to have turned a corner. It hasn't always felt that way, as the ball has continued to go in the goal more than these numbers would suggest, but there's been a real improvement in limiting opponents' chances. Some of that is bad luck, some of it comes down to game state, but the team needed the defense to improve to make a run at the playoffs and it seemingly has.

Two big tests remain in the form of Philadelphia and Nashville, and both those teams, potentially both with something to play for, playoff seeding for the former and the MLS points record for the latter. We'll find out soon just how real these underlying signs of defensive improvement are. If it's real, and the Orange and Blue make the playoffs, things could get interesting.

3: Mboma Dem's Value

I've written about Kenji Mboma Dem pretty recently, but I think he's deserving of another mention. Even in during the course of an up-and-down game, Mboma Dem showed that he's deserving of minutes and contributes to a winning soccer team.

After the game, Noonan said Mboma Dem, "had a strike before that that sometimes limits what you do moving forward as far as confidence and decisions and for Kenji to find a better moment to create the goal was, I think, a good sign for him." And his goal was certainly a better moment.

Showing the ability to create space in the box for himself on the dribble and then the technical ability to curl his shot into the far corner demonstrates a level of skill you might not expect to see from a player who was the 57th overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft.

Then there's his flexibility. Mboma Dem started the game alongside Kévin Denkey and Evander in FCC's attacking band and moved back to right wing back in the second half when Tom Barlow entered the game. Importantly, he's a capable player in both spots.

Mboma Dem might not be a superstar in the league, but he's the kind of player you need to put together a good team in MLS: a cost-controlled contributor in multiple spots. He's also represents a development pipeline running from FCC2 to the first team which has been somewhat hit or miss over the last few of seasons. Even if he's playing at the upper band of what FCC supporters should expect going forward, it's a good sign to see a player brought on through a less heralded roster make meaningful contributions. The Orange and Blue's long-term success depends on success stories like Kenji Mboma Dem.