With pole positioning in the Supporters’ Shield race, FC Cincinnati are set to host the Columbus Crew in the “Hell is Real Derby” Saturday night.
Cincinnati (13-5-3, 42 points) is on a four-match winning streak, including a 2-1 home win against Chicago last Saturday night that vaulted it into first place in the Eastern Conference and to the top of the MLS table.
Their All-Star midfielder, Evander, has scored in three consecutive matches, and a goal Saturday would match FC Cincinnati’s MLS regular-season club record for consecutive matches with a goal.
“It’s just an exciting game to be a part of, I think, for both clubs,” Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said. “For the state and for the league, so I think each club is representing themselves and the league in a good way and trying to approach the game with the right mentality to entertain and to make your respective fan bases and clubs proud.”
Columbus (10-3-8, 38 points) is on a four-match unbeaten streak, including a hard-earned 1-1 draw at Seattle Sunday to stay in fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Goalkeeper Evan Bush has started the four previous matches for Columbus, and he held Seattle scoreless for the final 47 minutes and extra time Sunday.
“It was two good teams, two structured teams, two well-coached teams kind of playing cat-and-mouse, give-and-take a little bit,” Bush said. “I think you saw that where it wasn’t as free and open as maybe some other games would be because it’s two good teams.”
The Crew are led by forward Diego Rossi, who’s notched four assists and a club-leading 10 goals this season. It was Rossi’s 54th-minute penalty kick goal that tied the first “Hell is Real Derby” match this season in Columbus on May 17, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Cincinnati is unbeaten in three straight matches against the Crew, and the two teams played to a scoreless draw in Cincinnati in 2024.
A win Saturday would give Cincinnati its second five-match winning streak this season.
–Field Level Media
