MLS: Denkey begins 2026 season with match winner for FC Cincinnati

The 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) season kicked off on Saturday and it was Kévin Denkey who provided the first match-winning goal of the new campaign in FC Cincinnati’s 2-0 victory over Atlanta United.

Kévin. Denkey. 😎@fccincinnati on top in the 80th minute! pic.twitter.com/YBF5a7jQ43

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 21, 2026

With the match tied at 0-0 in the 80th minute, Cincinnati wing-back Ender Echenique got free on the right flank and was off to the races. With only one defender between him and the goal, the Venezuelan crossed low to find Denkey.

The Togolese striker waited for his moment, drawing Atlanta goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos onto the ground before finishing low.

Defender Nick Hagglund added the second goal in the 90th minute to finish off the result, making the Ohio club the first team to earn a victory in the new season. Earlier on Saturday, Wilfried Zaha helped Charlotte FC fight back for a 1-1 draw at St. Louis City.

Denkey met high expectations last year in his debut season with 18 goals in 37 appearances. However, despite an excellent regular season that saw them finish second on the Eastern Conference table, the club fell in the quarterfinals of the league’s playoffs with a 0-4 drubbing to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.