Warriors defender Teenage Hadebe scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night, and it was the winner. His 55th-minute strike gave Cincinnati a 2-1 Major League Soccer win over D.C. United at TQL Stadium, according to the club and NewZimbabwe.

How the goal came

D.C. United gave away a foul about 40 yards from goal, and Cincinnati captain Evander swung the free kick into a crowded box. Hadebe arrived at the back post and slid in with his right foot to put the ball in before it could bounce, FC Cincinnati's match report said. NewZimbabwe also reported the sliding finish from Evander's delivery in the 55th minute.

Cincinnati had led through David Douděra, who finished from a tight angle in the 14th minute for his first MLS goal, according to the club. (NewZimbabwe gives the minute as the 13th.) Kimito Nono equalised for D.C. United in the 38th minute, and the sides went in level at half-time.

A goal two years in the making

The club said it was Hadebe's fourth career goal in MLS and his first since 23 September 2023, when he scored for Houston Dynamo against Sporting Kansas City. Hadebe started at centre-back, both the club and NewZimbabwe reported, and D.C. United's official post-match facts list him in Cincinnati's starting line-up.

There was a scare along the way. NewZimbabwe, citing FC Cincinnati club reporter Carter Chapley, said head coach Pat Noonan revealed after the game that Hadebe had an X-ray on his arm at half-time, and that everything came back fine. NewZimbabwe also reported that Noonan described Hadebe as a player the club can always rely on.

Why it matters

The win lifted Cincinnati to 39 points and eighth place in the Eastern Conference, above the playoff line with four matches left in the regular season, the club said. D.C. United stayed on 33 points. A crowd of 25,513 watched, according to the club's game report.

For Zimbabwe fans, it is a welcome boost for one of the Warriors' most experienced defenders, who plays his club football in one of the most-watched leagues outside Europe. A run of form for Hadebe heading into the end of the season is good news for the national team too.

What's next

The two sides meet again almost straight away: FC Cincinnati visit D.C. United at Audi Field in Washington on Saturday 24 October, kicking off at 7:30pm local time (00:30 BST on Sunday), the club said. Cincinnati are then at home to Philadelphia Union on Saturday 31 October.

Sources: FC Cincinnati, 21 Oct 2026: https://www.fccincinnati.com/news/recap-fc-cincinnati-2-d-c-united-1 · NewZimbabwe, 22 Oct 2026: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/warriors-defender-hadebe-scores-first-cincinnati-goal/ · D.C. United, 21 Oct 2026: https://www.dcunited.com/news/post-match-facts-cinvdc-x5164