The MLS playoffs have given us a new chapter in the Hell Is Real derby, with Ohio rivals FC Cincinnati matched up against Columbus Crew. After Cincy’s 1-0 home victory in Game 1, the Crew had to stave off elimination in the second game in the state capital. The result was a massive 4-0 win to force a third game, but the run of play was even more impressive than the final scoreline.
To be sure, Cincinnati’s Japanese winger Yūya Kubo was sent off in the 38th minute for a foul on a breakaway by Columbus’ Andrés Herrera. Being reduced to 10 players will put a damper on most offenses, but even before that, the visitors posed very little threat to Patrick Schulte’s goal.
In fact, Cincinnati’s best scoring chance came in the 37th minute, when Columbus defender Steven Moreira’s attempt to clear Brenner’s cross sailed over Schulte’s head and almost dipped into his own net for an embarrassing (and spectacular) own goal.
Besides Dylan Chambost's free-kick goal directly from Kubo's red-card foul, the Crew had goals from Herrera, Max Arfsten, and substitute Jace Russel-Rowe. Cincy was thoroughly outplayed, managing only one shot in the entire match (an off-target attempt by Teenage Hadebe) to Columbus's 19 and holding only 34% possession.
Columbus Crew broke a proud Cincinnati record
The last time an MLS team managed to keep the Orange and Blue off the scoresheet was almost three months ago, when Charlotte took advantage of another Cincinnati red card for a 1-0 win.
Now the deciding third game will take place at TQL Stadium in the Queen City on Saturday. Kubo will be suspended for that match, but Cincinnati’s defensive mainstay, Miles Robinson, will play after being subbed out of Game 2 so that he wouldn’t pick up a second yellow card. Head Coach Pat Noonan will have to hope that his squad simply had a bad day at the office and will be back to their usual selves at home.
The Crew, however, will be hoping that momentum from their dominant display will carry over into the next game. If so, then the seventh seed in MLS’ Eastern Conference will have reason to hope that they can pull the upset and hold bragging rights over their interstate rivals for all of next season.