Columbus Crew Display Championship Mettle with Dominant Hell is Real Derby Victory Over FC Cincinnati
Columbus Crew SC have claimed soccer supremacy in Ohio for the first time since their 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign.
During Saturday evening's match, the Black and Yellow mounted an impressive comeback from being down by two goals to triumph over FC Cincinnati 4–2 in this season's second Hell is Real Derby, breaking a pattern of two consecutive draws and securing their first regular-season victory against Cincinnati since 2023.
Despite Cincinnati's Pavel Bucha finding the net within the opening minute following a weather-related kickoff delay, the Crew responded with strikes from Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten, before an unfortunate Miles Robinson own goal and Taha Habroune's clinching strike secured the victory.
"Faith. Faith. Determination. Tenacity. Team spirit," expressed Crew manager Wilfried Nancy regarding the turnaround. "We implemented several minor adjustments... Following the second half, we also modified certain aspects. From a tactical standpoint, it was excellent work as we altered our approach three or four times based on our objectives."
The triumph not only provides Columbus with an advantage over their state rivals but also prolongs their undefeated run to five matches, with four resulting in victories. Following a period where they failed to win in six consecutive games, this represents a significant uplift.
"This feeling is hard to put into words. I understand it's like this, but achieving it in Cincinnati, across multiple games and recovering from such a deficit, I believe this is more about the circumstances because I'm aware we possess the ability to mount comebacks," Nancy continued. "I'm delighted for our supporters, the organization, and our players."
Columbus Crew Return as Championship Contenders
The stretch of six matches without victory during the spring represented nearly unprecedented territory for the Crew in recent campaigns. While some regression was anticipated after losing star player Cucho Hérnandez to Real Betis before the season began, few anticipated the Crew would experience such a challenging period.
However, recent weeks have proven productive, and the victory against their Hell is Real Derby opponents serves as a declaration, not just regarding their current form, but also their position within MLS as they maintain pace with the Eastern Conference leaders.
Currently, the Crew possess 40 points, trailing FC Cincinnati by one point for second place in the Eastern Conference and sitting two points behind the Philadelphia Union for the top spot. Simultaneously, they're fending off the pursuit of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, who have accumulated 38 points but potentially hold up to three games in hand over certain clubs.
"I attempt to view my squad with fresh perspective constantly," Nancy stated. "I mentioned this at the season's start, and perhaps people thought I was being overly optimistic, but I understand my team's capabilities.
"I'm not claiming we require competition. Competition will come to us, but I'm aware of our potential, and subsequently, we find the net frequently. I believe that throughout the past three years, we rank among the top teams regarding goal production."
Challenging Schedule Ahead
The summer fixture list continues at a rapid pace for both the Crew and FC Cincinnati, with this week presenting some of the most demanding matches yet, as Columbus hosts Sam Surridge's Nashville SC while Cincinnati welcomes Messi's Inter Miami.
While the Hell is Real Derby took place in Cincinnati, both Nashville and Miami engaged in a high-stakes encounter in Fort Lauderdale, where Messi netted his fifth consecutive double to guide the Herons to a 2–1 victory, ending Nashville's remarkable 15-match unbeaten streak.
Defeating rivals represents one achievement, but maintaining that momentum and capitalizing on the victory's confidence boost presents the greater challenge, one that Columbus hopes to meet against the Tennessee club in midweek action.
"From a mental perspective, it's enormous," Arfsten commented after the match. "Defeating them 4–2 isn't simple to accomplish in [Cincinnati], so I believe it provides us with tremendous confidence, knowing we're capable of such performances, regardless of venue."