HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (July 12, 2026) — Orlando City B (8-4-6, 33 points) defeated FC Cincinnati 2 (4-12-1, 14 points) 2-1 on Sunday night at NKU Soccer Stadium in the second match of the club's three-game road trip. The victory marked the Lions' first three-point result since a 3-2 win over Carolina Core FC on June 7 at Osceola Heritage Park.
Orlando City B opened the scoring in the 16th minute when midfielder Issah Haruna ran onto a long ball from goalkeeper Juan Rojas and slotted a left-footed finish into the bottom-right corner. The goal was Haruna's third of the season and his fifth goal contribution of 2026, bringing his totals to three goals and two assists.
The play also produced a milestone for Rojas, who recorded the first assist of his professional career. It marked the first assist by an Orlando City B goalkeeper since the club competed in USL in 2016.
Haruna's strike gave the Lions a 1-0 lead at halftime and their first opening-half goal since Pedro Leão converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time during Orlando City B's victory over Carolina Core FC on June 7.
FC Cincinnati 2 equalized in the 63rd minute when Deiver Mosquera dribbled through the Orlando City B defense and fired a shot into the upper-left corner.
The Lions regained the lead in the 75th minute through 16-year-old Orlando City Academy product Matthew Belgodere. After receiving a pass from Orlando City SC midfielder Gustavo Caraballo, Belgodere cut onto his right foot and finished for the eventual game-winner. The goal was Belgodere's third as a professional, while Caraballo recorded his fourth assist of the season, matching his total from the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
Scoring Summary:
16’ Issah Haruna (Juan Rojas) – ORL 1, CIN 063’ Deiver Mosquera – ORL 1, CIN 175’ Matthew Belgodere (Gustavo Caraballo) – ORL 2, CIN 1
Match Notes:
- With the victory, Orlando City B improved to 5W-3L-1D all-time against FC Cincinnati 2 and earned its first win in the series since Sept. 24, 2023.
- Issah Haruna's goal in the 16th minute marked Orlando City B's first first-half goal since its June 7 victory over Carolina Core FC.
- Haruna's 16th-minute strike was his third goal and fifth goal contribution of the 2026 season. The 22-year-old now has three goals and two assists on the year.
- Goalkeeper Juan Rojas recorded the first assist of his professional career on Haruna's opening goal.
- Pedro Leão made his 15th start of the 2026 season, joining Bernardo Rhein as the only Orlando City B players with at least 15 starts this year.
- Orlando City SC defender Tahir Reid-Brown made his fourth MLS NEXT Pro appearance of the 2026 season and his first since Orlando City B's May 24 win over Inter Miami CF II.
- Head coach Eddie Wilding made four changes to the starting lineup from the club's previous match against Crown Legacy FC, inserting Matthew Belgodere, Landon Okonski, Tahir Reid-Brown and Caleb Trombino into the starting XI.
Next Match:
Orlando City B will close out its three-match road trip on Saturday, July 18, against Chattanooga FC. Kickoff from Finley Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET.
