On Saturday night, FC Cincinnati 2 took on Carolina Core FC at Trust Point Stadium in High Points, North Carolina. The Orange and Blue defeated the Foxes, 3-1, earning three points on the road.
The two teams combine for four second half goals after playing to a 0-0 draw in the first half. Sami Lachekar opened the scoring for Cincinnati in the 52nd minute. Lachekar headed home from close range from a corner to make the score 1-0. The goal is his first career goal in MLS NEXT Pro.
Stefan Chirila would continue his blistering scoring form for the Orange and Blue in the 66th minute, making the score 2-0 off a penalty kick. Chirila set a career single-season high for goals scored for FCC 2, finding the back of the net ten times this season.
Nathan Gray continued the momentum for FCC 2, scoring the final goal of the night for the Orange and Blue to make the score to 3-0. After receiving a pass from Yair Ramos, Gray dribbled though midfield and found an opening between three Carolina Core defenders and struck well from outside the box to find the back of the net. The goal marks Gray’s second of the year.
The Core would get on the board through forward Antonio Pineda in the 83rd minute.
Academy goalkeeper David Paz made his second consecutive appearance for FCC 2 and made six saves. Paz set a single-match high after making four saves in his debut against New York City FC II on Wednesday.
FC Cincinnati 2 return home on Sunday, August 30 facing Philadelphia Union II at noon at Scudamore Field at NKU Soccer Stadium. Tickets for the match are available through the FC Cincinnati App. The match will also air live on OneFootball platforms and on MLSNEXTPro.com.
FC CINCINNATI 2 GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati 2 at Carolina Core FC
Date: August 22, 2026
Competition: MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season
Venue: Truist Point Stadium | High Point, North Carolina
Kickoff: 7:36 p.m. ET
Weather: 80 degrees, clear
SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-FT
CCFC: 0-1-1
CIN: 0-3-3
CCFC – Antonio Pineda (83’)
CIN – Sami Lachekar (Lajhar 52’), Stefan Chirila (PK) 66’, Nathan Gray (Ramos 79’)
LINEUPS
CCFC: Nicholas Holliday, Charles Orbaugh, Nolan Evers (C), Bryce Swinehart (Andrew Czech 75’), Ricardo Montenegro (Antonio Pineda 58’), Thomas Raimbault, Ryan Baer, Nicholas Kaloukian (Graham Ford 58’) Seth Hammond, Arnaud Tattevin, Ricks Ford, David Díaz (Tristian Weber 67’)
Substitutes not used: Corey Lundeen, Khalid Balogun, Trevor Jackson, Rashid Tetteh
Head Coach: Jake Davis
CIN: David Paz, Sami Lachekar, LJ Born (Deiver Mosquera 72’), Félix Samson (C), Ayoub Lajhar, Camden Sphire (Yair Ramos 72’), Leo Orejarena, Charlie Holmes, Stefan Chirila (Jack Mize 90+3’), Ademar Chávez (Nathan Gray 46’), Mathias Vazquez (Cheikhou Niang 61’)
Substitutes not used: Ben Saunders, Gio Marioni
Head Coach: Sammy Castellanos
STATS SUMMARY: CCFC/CIN
Shots: 22 / 9
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7/ 3
Fouls: 12 / 14
Offside: 3 / 0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN- Félix Samson (Yellow Card) 63’
CIN- David Paz (Yellow Card) 85’
OFFICIALS
Referee: Promise Adebayo-Ige
Ast. Referees: Justen Lopez, Doug Clayton
Fourth Official: Jake Joyce
