“Kévin Denkey broke the deadlock for Cincinnati just nine minutes in, punishing Columbus before the hosts had found their footing and silencing the home support early.”
Pivotal“Jamal Thiaré's persistence paid off when his shot was initially saved but he followed up to restore parity for Columbus, sparking a dramatic final few minutes of the half.”
Pivotal“Dániel Gazdag stepped up and converted from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time to put Columbus ahead 2-1, completing a stunning two-minute turnaround that defined the outcome of the match.”
Pivotal“Gerardo Valenzuela was dismissed for violent conduct in the dying seconds, a moment that encapsulated Cincinnati's mounting frustration as they failed to find an equaliser in a second half that Columbus controlled.”
Columbus Crew
Cincinnati
Outstanding performance
Cincinnati•AttackerColumbus Crew produced a composed and ultimately clinical performance to edge Cincinnati 2-1 in a ferocious Ohio derby, with the decisive action crammed into a frantic closing stretch of the first half. Kévin Denkey gave the visitors the lead early, punishing Columbus before they had settled, but the Crew responded well and drew level through Jamal Thiaré's goal just before the break. The pivotal moment came deep in first-half stoppage time when Dániel Gazdag coolly converted from the spot to flip the tie on its head. Columbus, who finished with 53 percent possession and created three big chances to Cincinnati's one, controlled the second half with a degree of authority despite a wave of substitutions from both benches. The match finished with Gerardo Valenzuela seeing red for violent conduct in the final minute, a moment that summed up Cincinnati's frustration on a night when they were undone by a two-minute collapse just before the interval. For Columbus, the result keeps their title race momentum intact; for Cincinnati, it is a damaging home-rivalry defeat that will sting given how well-placed they were at 1-0.
How entertaining was this match?
Offside
Corner
On Malte Amundsen，Off Steven Moreira
On Chase Adams，Off Daniel Gazdag
On Chase Adams，Off Daniel Gazdag
Shot - Max Arfsten Right Footed Shot Saved
Offside
Shot - Evander da Silva Ferreira Right Footed Shot Missed
Jamal ThiaréOn Hugo Picard，Off Jamal Thiare
Shot - Evander da Silva Ferreira Right Footed Shot Missed
Shot - Evander da Silva Ferreira Right Footed Shot Missed
Shot - Taha Habroune Left Footed Shot Saved
Shot - Taha Habroune Left Footed Shot Saved
Offside
On Tarun Karumanchi，Off Dylan Chambost
On Ayoub Jabbari，Off Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey
On Kyle Smith，Off Matthew Miazga
Shot - Tom Barlow Head Shot Saved
Corner
Yellow Card - Matthew Miazga
On Bryan Ramirez，Off Ender Echenique
On Tom Barlow，Off Kenji Mboma
Corner
Corner
Shot - Dylan Chambost Left Footed Shot Blocked
Corner
Corner
Shot - Taha Habroune Right Footed Shot Missed
On Andre Filipe Tavares Gomes，Off Sekou Tidiany Bangoura
Dániel GazdagShot - Daniel Gazdag Right Footed Shot Goal
First Half Ends！2-1
Goal - Penalty - Daniel Gazdag 2-1
Corner
Corner
Corner
Shot - Evander da Silva Ferreira Left Footed Shot Saved
Corner
Jamal ThiaréGoal - Jamal Thiare 1-1
Jamal ThiaréGoal - Jamal Thiare 1-1
Shot - Jamal Thiare Right Footed Shot Saved
Corner
Shot - Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey Right Footed Shot Missed
Shot - Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey Right Footed Shot Saved
Corner
Corner
Shot - Kenji Mboma Head Shot Missed
Corner
Corner
Shot - Dylan Chambost Left Footed Shot Missed
Shot - Steven Moreira Right Footed Shot Saved
Shot - Gerardo Valenzuela Right Footed Shot Saved
Kévin DenkeyShot - Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey Left Footed Shot Goal
assist: Evander
Goal - Ahoueke Steeve Kevin Denkey 0-1
Kick-off! Referee：Allen Chapman
The Hell is Real derby returns as Columbus Crew host FC Cincinnati in the first Ohio rivalry clash of the 2026 MLS season. Cincinnati arrive carrying genuine momentum after a 4-3 thriller over Vancouver, while Columbus are searching for a response after a damaging home loss to NYCFC. With both clubs carrying different forms of urgency — one chasing a top-four spot, the other fighting to escape the lower half — this 22nd all-time meeting promises fireworks at Lower.com Field.
