Columbus Crew fall to FC Cincinnati 2-1 in first MLS home loss since April 2023: Replay

For the first time since April of 2023, the Crew have lost an MLS regular-season at Lower.com Field. And the loss comes at the hands of no other than their Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati, 2-1.

The match was scoreless for over 70 minutes, but Cincinnati was able to break the 0-0 deadlock with a goal in the 74th minute from Kevin Kelsy. Less than five minutes later, Luciano Acosta was putting the second goal on the board.

Max Arfsten was able to pull Columbus within one goal, scoring right before stoppage time at the 89-minute mark, but it was too little to change the outcome.

This marks the Crew's first loss in regulation at home since April 29, 2023, and first overall loss at home since August of 2023, when they fell to Minnesota United on penalty kicks during Leagues Cup play.

(89') Max Arfsten scores to cut FC Cincinnati lead over Columbus Crew 2-1

A late game substitute for Columbus, Arfsten was able to find the back of the net for the first time in the match for Columbus with a shot from the right side of Cincinnati's goal. Once Arfsten got control of the ball, he was able to make a few dribbles and sent a shot to the right of goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

(87') Luciano Acosta substituted out of match for FC Cincinnati

The reigning MLS MVP Luciano Acosta, who scored the second goal of the night for Cincinnati, was replaced in the match by Malik Pinto.

(81') Christian Ramirez and Max Arfsten enter match for Columbus Crew

Christian Ramirez was substituted into the match for Jacen Russell-Rowe and Max Arfsten entered for Alex Matan.

(76') Luciano Acosta gives FC Cincinnati a 2-0 advantage over Columbus Crew

Luciano Acosta was able to score the second goal of the night off a long shot from the left side of Columbus' box.

The shot had a clear path to the right side of Columbus' goal, with goalkeeper Patrick Schulte barely making a move to contest the goal.

(72') Kevin Kelsy scores first goal off the match, FC Cincinnati takes 1-0 lead

Kevin Kelsy was able to capitalize on an open Crew goal from the left side of the box with goalkeeper Patrick Schulte attempting to stop Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta near the right goal line. When Acosta sent the ball towards Kelsy, the forward was easily able to turn his header shot into a goal.

(70') Columbus Crew make first substitution, replacing Aidan Morris with Yaw Yeboah

Yaw Yeboah has entered the match for Aidan Morris, the Crew's first substitution of the match. The pause in play that allowed Yeboah to enter was when Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo was handed a yellow card for a foul against Darlington Nagbe.

(67') FC Cincinnati replaces Corey Baird with Kevin Kelsy

Cincinnati adds its second player from off the bench into the match, substituting in forward Kevin Kelsy for Corey Baird.

(59') Aidan Morris looks to get Columbus on the board, shot goes wide left

Aidan Morris' shot attempt at the top-right of Cincinnati's bo was able to break through the backline, but was too far left and went out of play, uncontested.

(52') Alex Matan helped off the field following hard hit, able to re-enter match

After a collision within Cincinnati's box with Luciano Acosta, Alex Matan had to be helped off the field. Matan was holding his left knee, but after walking back to the sideline, he was able to re-enter the match.

(45') Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati match go into halftime tied 0-0

Neither Ohio-based team was able to find an opportunity to go into halftime with the advantage, both finishing the first half scoreless.

FC Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo was able to get off a shot near the right corner of Columbus' goal in the final minute of the half, but goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made the stop, recording his first save of the game.

(45') 1 minute of stoppage time added to first half

Just 1 minute of stoppage time was added to the first half of the Crew vs Cincinnati match.

(39') Sean Zawadzki yellow card leads to close call for FC Cincinnati

Sean Zawadzki earned a yellow card violation for Columbus right outside of the Crew's own penalty box. This allowed for Cincinnati to set up a free kick at the top of the box to the right of Columbus' goal, which resulted in a shot attempt from Yuya Kubo that goalkeeper Patrick Schulte tipped over the top of the goal, out of play.

(37') Yuya Kubo handed another yellow card for FC Cincinnati

Just minutes after teammate Matt Miazga was handed a yellow card, Yuya Kubo received the second yellow card of the match for FC Cincinnati.

(34') FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga handed yellow card

Matt Miazga was given the yellow card foul after a tie-up with Jacen Russell-Rowe in which he seemingly forced the Crew forward to the ground. It is the yellow card of the match.

(23') Diego Rossi shot attempt hits off post

Diego Rossi had one of Columbus' best opportunities to score early in the match, a shot off a cross from Cucho Hernandez near Cincinnati's goal, but it hit the left post. Rossi was aiming the shot towards the left corner of the goal.

(14') FC Cincinnati substitutes Gerardo Valenzuela for Alvas Powell

Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell was taken out of the match after taking a hit near the sideline on Cincinnati's side of the field. Though Powell remained standing up, the referee signaled for Powell to receive medical assistance, and quickly after, Gerardo Valenzuela was put in the match.

Powell was able to walk off the field with the help of Cincinnati's medical staff.

(2') FC Cincinnati awarded first corner kick of the match

Cincinnati took the first corner of the match after Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and defender Rudy Camacho hit the ball out of bounce behind the goal line in an effort to stop a shot attempt from Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta.

Yuya Kubo did create an opportunity off the corner, but shot the ball too high, over the goal.

Why is the rivalry called Hell is Real?

The Crew-Cincinnati rivalry was given the title 'Hell is Real' as a reference to a sign on I-71, the route many take from Columbus to Cincinnati, that has the phrase written in big letters.

Mo Farsi officially out for Hell is Real match

While Crew coach Wilfried Nancy stated on Wednesday that midfielder Mo Farsi would need another week to recover from the groin injury he suffered against CF Montreal on April 27, Farsi was still listed as questionable in the availability report on Friday.

The Crew's lineup announcement an hour before the Cincinnati match confirmed what Nancy had previously stated, as Farsi was left off the gameday roster.

FC Cincinnati starting lineup vs Columbus Crew

Here is the starting 11 for Cincinnati vs Columbus:

• GK: Roman Celentano

• DF: Matt Miazga

• DF: Ian Murphy

• DF: Luca Orellano

• DF: Miles Robinson

• DF: Alvas Powell

• MF: Luciano Acosta

• MF: Pavel Bucha

• MF: Obinna Nwobodo

• FW: Corey Baird

• FW: Yuya Kubo

Columbus Crew starting lineup vs FC Cincinnati

Here is the starting 11 for Columbus vs Cincinnati:

• GK: Patrick Schulte

• DF: Malte Amundsen

• DF: Rudy Camacho

• DF: Steven Moreira

• MF: Alex Matan

• MF: Aidan Morris

• MF: Darlington Nagbe

• MF: Sean Zawadzki

• FW: Cucho Hernandez

• FW: Diego Rossi

• FW: Jacen Russell-Rowe

FC Cincinnati injury report vs Columbus Crew

Here is Cincinnati's official availability report:

• Yamil Asad (hamstring): Out

• Aaron Boupendza (jaw): Out

• DeAndre Yedlin (hip): Questionable

Columbus Crew injury report vs FC Cincinnati

Here is the Crew's official availability report:

• Evan Bush (arm): Out

• Mo Farsi (groin): Questionable

Though Farsi is listed as questionable, Crew coach Wilfried Nancy stated on Wednesday that the midfielder would need "another week" to recover from his groin injury after previously saying that he'd only be out one week before the second leg of the Champions Cup semifinal. Farsi suffered the injury in the second half of Columbus' match against Montreal on April 27.

Farsi was seen at training on Wednesday, practicing off to the side, away from full team, with teammate Aidan Morris. It was confirmed that Morris returned to full activity on Thursday, with no official reason for being limited in practice.

Hell is Real preview: Columbus Crew proving they're the 'best team in Ohio' is top priority

The Crew holds the 7-2-4 advantage in the series overall, but there are other arguments to be made for Columbus' status as Ohio's team.

"Not only because a lot of players that we have are from Ohio, but I think it's just Crew has been around longer," said Crew captain Darlington Nagbe. "So, it might take a while for Cincy to get to the level that the Crew has been at."

Read more about how the Crew view the upcoming Hell is Real match here.

Who are the referees for Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati?

Here are the officials for the Crew vs Cincinnati on Saturday night:

• Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

• Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Bigelow

• Assistant Referee 2: Jeffery Swartzel

• Fourth Official: Joshua Encarnacion

• VAR: Kevin Scott

• Assistant VAR: Peter Balciunas

Where does FC Cincinnati rank in MLS Eastern Conference standings?

Cincinnati is currently second in the Eastern Conference standings, behind Inter Miami, with a record of 6-2-3 and 21 points though 11 matches.

Here are Cincinnati's most recent MLS results:

• May 4: Cincinnati 1, Orlando City SC 0

• April 27: Cincinnati 2, Colorado Rapids 1

• April 20: Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

• April 13: CF Montreal 2, Cincinnati 1

• April 6: New York Red Bulls 2, Cincinnati 1

Where does Columbus Crew rank in MLS Eastern Conference standings?

The Crew are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference standings with a record of 3-1-6 and 15 points through 10 matches. In its last five MLS regular-season games, Columbus has recorded a draw.

Here are the Crew's most recent MLS results:

• April 27: Columbus 0, CF Montreal 0

• April 20: Columbus 2, Portland Timbers 0

• April 13: Real Salt Lake 0, Columbus 0

• April 6: Columbus 1, D.C. United 1

• March 30: Nashville SC 2, Columbus 2

Columbus Crew's Hell is Real Record

Since the first Hell is Real match in 2019, the Crew is 7-2-4 against FC Cincinnati.

The last time Cincinnati beat the Crew was May last season at TQL Stadium, defeating Columbus 3-2. The last draw beat the two teams was in August of 2022, where they finished tied 2-2.

Columbus Crew in CONCACAF Champions Cup

A match against Cincinnati is always a big one on the regular-season calendar for the Crew, and it is following a big moment in club history.

The Crew picked up a historic 5-2 aggregate victory over CF Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals and will face CF Pachuca in its first Champions Cup final on June 1. Columbus did have a bit of space between the game in Monterrey on May 1 and their first Hell is Real match of the season, with a weekend off from MLS play.

Takeaways: Columbus Crew defeat CF Monterrey 3-1 to advance to Champions Cup final

"The break has been really good for them," said Crew coach Wilfried Nancy. "I was supposed to give three days off, but before the (Monterrey) game, they asked me for another day, so I said, ‘Okay, let’s do it.’ They deserved it, they came back fresh."

How to listen to Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati radio broadcast

The Crew vs. Cincinnati English-speaking radio broadcast will be on Alt 105.7 FM and also available via the iHeartRadio app. Columbus' regular radio broadcaster Chris Doran will be on the call.

The Spanish radio broadcast can be found on La Grande 102.5 FM and the La Grande radio app with Juan Valladares doing play-by-play.

Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati streaming information

This weekend, the Crew vs Cincinnati game will be one of the two free matches streaming on Apple TV, meaning an MLS Season Pass subscription is not required to watch.

For the English broadcast, Jake Zivin will be handling play-by-play and Taylor Twellman will be the analyst. On the call for the Spanish broadcast will be Jorge Perez-Navarro on play-play-play and Marcelo Balboa as the analyst.

Is the Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati available on cable television?

For the first time this season, an MLS regular-season match for the Crew will be available on cable as well as streaming.

The Columbus-Cincinnati match will air on FS1 with Mike Watts on play-by-play and Tony Meola as the analyst.

When is the Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati match?

Kickoff: 7:45 p.m., Saturday, May 11 at Lower.com Field

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@brimackay15

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati: Hell is Real is here, follow live