Three storylines to follow as Columbus Crew hosts FC Cincinnati in rivalry showdown
There was no shortage of talking points from the first time the Crew played FC Cincinnati this season.
In what would become a 3-2 Cincinnati win, the Crew fell behind 2-0 in the first half hour, rallied to tie it with goals scored within 10 minutes of each side of halftime before allowing the game-winner in the 67th minute. It was a game that lived up to the passion of the rivalry as well as one that taught the Crew’s players a few lessons about themselves.
Atop the list: the team that plays for each other often enjoys the most success.
“When we were not together, we collapsed, but as soon as we played and had the spirit to play for your teammate, we were really good,” coach Wilfried Nancy said when asked about the May 20 game. “The outcome was not what we wanted but it was a really good game for us to show we can do good things in a difficult environment.”
Here are three storylines to watch as the Crew prepares to host FC Cincinnati.
How will the Crew handle being without coach Wilfried Nancy?
The Crew’s coach had a smile and a laugh when asked about how he’s preparing to watch the Cincinnati game.
“I like rum, so maybe I’m gonna drink rum the night before,” he said.
It was a comment made in jest, clearly, and the conversation then turned to a more somber tone as Nancy described what it’s going to like to serve the final part of a two-game suspension levied for his actions in a July 8 game against New York City FC. Nancy was given a red card in the 87th minute of that game and was suspended for the Crew’s next two MLS games: a July 15 date at Portland and Sunday’s showdown with Cincinnati.
In that 3-2 loss to the Timbers, Nancy was replaced by assistant coach Kwame Ampadu. Nancy said the plans won’t change for this game.
“Everything’s going to be like Portland in terms of the way we prepare for the game, the way we discuss with my staff and the way they’re going to be able to find the right moment to make subs and so on,” Nancy said. “I trust them and I’m going to try to be calm and relaxed, but this is not easy. They might do something different because their background is different, because of the ways they feel at the same moment is going to be different but the big picture is the same.
“That’s why I decided to have a staff like this, to be able to bring me stuff that could be useful for me if I don’t think about it.”
What will the game against FC Cincinnati be like for Diego Rossi?
The Crew’s latest high-profile acquisition is likely to make his club debut in a rivalry game. In his first press conference since joining the Crew on the final day of the summer transfer window, forward and designated player Diego Rossi said he’s excited to see the scene at Lower.com Field and potentially play.
“That’s really good, because you can see the passion of the fans, also for the people inside the club,” he said. “This is nice. This is the games you want to play. This is the games that you can see the real teams. It’s gonna be a good one.”
He added, “Let’s see how it is on Sunday.”
Nancy said Rossi has been able to shoulder more of a workload than they had anticipated upon his arrival from the preseason in Turkey but that they are going to be cautious not to overwork him too quickly.
“This is more about find the balance between decision-making and execution,” Nancy said of Rossi. “He was playing all kinds of positions when he was (in Turkey). For us, he can also play a different position but the idea is for us to see him. I haven’t discussed with him in terms of concept because I wanted to see him as a natural player. I saw really good things.
“Now the idea is to sit with him (Friday) and to show him the video about the game on Sunday and everything he has to do.”
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It could mean a role as a reserve for Rossi, something Christian Ramirez is familiar with. The veteran forward made his first appearance in the rivalry as a 90th-minute substitution in this season’s prior meeting.
“I’m excited to get more of a taste of what the derby was,” he said. “I think the last time I came in in the 90th minute and wasn’t able to get my head on a free kick. I’m excited. You can feel the buzz from everywhere on social media and around the city. It’s an exciting time.”
Can the Crew protect home field?
Overall, the Crew is 5-2-4 against Cincinnati. In Columbus, the Crew is unbeaten in four games against Cincinnati and have won three straight. The lone draw came in the first MLS meeting between the two teams, a 2-2 result played at Historic Crew Stadium on Oct. 10, 2019.
Since then, the Crew has outscored its Ohio counterparts 8-2 in games played in Columbus and shut Cincinnati out twice.
That has held true in MLS play this year as well. The Crew are sixth in the Eastern Conference with 36 points and a 10-7-6 record, but at home they are 8-1-3. Their last home loss, a 2-1 defeat to Inter Miami, came back on April 29.
Cincinnati has not lost at home this year, going 11-0-1, but it is only 4-2-5 on the road.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew hosts FC Cincinnati: three key storylines to watch
