Nearing the midway point of the 2025 regular season, FC Cincinnati is in the midst of an eight-match streak with six on the road.
The Orange and Blue racked up three points north of the border Wednesday with a 1-0 win over Toronto FC and will stay on the road Saturday in a marquee edition of the Hell is Real derby with the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field (7:15 p.m. ET).
“I think guys are excited for the challenge and hopefully fully understand what it means to represent our club in this game,” FC Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan said Friday.
Kevin Denkey’s seventh goal of the season (and fourth in the last 29 days) paired with a shutout effort from goalkeeper Roman Celentano at BMO Field gave FC Cincinnati sole possession of first place in the MLS Eastern Conference.
Lurking just two points behind in the standings in a tie with Philadelphia is the Crew, which have dropped just once in 13 MLS matches this season. Since being blanked, 1-0, by Inter Miami CF April 19, Columbus defended its home pitch with wins over San Jose and Charlotte before back-to-back draws.
“This kind of game is one that everyone wants to be part of,” FC Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo said Thursday. “This game is always the game that we play knowing fully well that we’re playing this for history, for culture, for what the team stands for.”
Noonan added: “I think the fact that both clubs have been successful in the last couple of years helps. I think it’s two good teams that have a mutual respect for each other. At times, sometimes you can see a real hatred in rivalries. When you watch this game played out the last couple of years, I think there’s a good intensity but not a reckless intensity.”
FC Cincinnati expelled demons in Columbus 1 year ago
Just over a year ago, FC Cincinnati notched a 2-1 victory at Lower.com Field, marking its first road victory in Hell is Real derby history.
It was a breakthrough victory over Columbus, which had enjoyed a 27-match unbeaten run at home that included dominance over the Orange and Blue. From 2020-2023, FC Cincinnati dropped four straight road matches against Columbus. They were shut out three times and outscored overall, 11-2.
The Crew beat FC Cincinnati in overtime of the 2023 Eastern Conference final, but the Orange and Blue responded well last season with a road win and a scoreless home draw, setting the stage for the first showdown of 2025.
Outside of a 1-0 loss to Miami at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Columbus has been stingy at its home venue with three straight wins and a 4-0-2 overall record. That includes a pair of clean sheets and Columbus, which ranks tied for third in the MLS in goals allowed (13) have permitted multiple goals just twice at home in 4-2 wins over Chicago (Feb. 22) and Charlotte (May 3).
How FC Cincinnati jumped Columbus for 1st place in Eastern Conference
Both sides enter Saturday’s match having lived on the edge in recent results with different degrees of success.
Each of FC Cincinnati’s last seven victories have been by a single goal, signifying stretches of stellar play on both sides of the ball but lacking a full 80-minute effort to put the opposition away.
Columbus couldn’t escape matches with CF Montreal and Philadelphia with wins on the road, but were able to rally in each affair, battling back to earn draws against Philadelphia and last-place Montreal but failing to gather any momentum leading into Saturday’s Battle for Ohio.
Against Montreal, forward Jacen Russell-Rowe netted the tying tally in the 63rd minute for his fifth goal of the season. He is second on the Crew in scoring behind fellow forward Diego Rossi, who has six.
Luca Orellano, Matt Miazga available for FC Cincinnati against Columbus
FC Cincinnati got good news on the injury front this week with the return of defender Matt Miazga and forward Luca Orellano.
Both returned to training on Thursday and will be available for Saturday’s match in Columbus.
Miazga tweaked his hamstring May 10 in a win over Austin FC. Orellano missed Wednesday’s win over Toronto with a leg injury.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: ‘Game everyone wants to be part of.’ FC Cincinnati visits Columbus for Hell is Real derby
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
