Major League Soccer Gameweek 17
Columbus Crew 2 - 1 FT FC Cincinnati
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
K. Denkey (Evander) 9'
41' J. Thiare (D. Chambost)
45'+6 D. Gazdag
HT
46' ↓ S. Bangoura ↑A. Gomes
↓ K. Mboma ↑T. Barlow 65'
↓ E. Echenique ↑B. J. Ramirez Leon 65'
M. Miazga 66'
↓ M. Miazga ↑K. Smith 71'
↓ K. Denkey ↑A. Jabbari 71'
72' ↓ D. Chambost ↑T. Karumanchi
79' ↓ J. Thiare ↑H. Picard
↓ O. Nwobodo ↑T. Anunga 85'
86' ↓ S. Moreira ↑M. Amundsen
86' ↓ D. Gazdag ↑C. Adams
G. Valenzuela 90'+4
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Columbus Crew
Goalkeepers
Patrick Schulte 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Steven Moreira 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Rudy Camacho 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sean Zawadzki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Mohamed Farsi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dylan Chambost 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
8.3
Rating
Sekou Tidiany Bangoura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Maximilian Arfsten
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Taha Habroune 
MAGNET
60
Activity
60
Activity
49
Passes
11
Duels
Dániel Gazdag
MAGNET
52
Activity
52
Activity
46
Passes
6
Duels
Jamal Thiaré 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.2
Rating
BENCH
Nicholas Hagen 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Malte Amundsen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cesar Ruvalcaba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Owen Presthus
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tarun Karumanchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hugo Picard
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amar Sejdic
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
André Gomes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nariman Akhundzade
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chase Adams
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
FC Cincinnati
Goalkeepers
Roman Celentano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Samuel Gidi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Matt Miazga 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Miles Robinson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Pavel Bucha
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gerardo Valenzuela
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Obinna Nwobodo 
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
8
Duels Won
89%
Win %
Ender Echenique
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
65
Entry
Forwards
Kenji Mboma Dem
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
65
Entry
Kévin Denkey
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.6
Rating
Evander
MAGNET
55
Activity
55
Activity
41
Passes
14
Duels
BENCH
Evan Louro
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Alvas Powell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyle Smith
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nick Hagglund
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Teenage Hadebe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bryan Ramirez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tah Anunga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tom Barlow
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
26
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ayoub Jabbari
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
20
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/08/2025 | FC Cincinnati | 2 - 1 | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 11/02/2025 | Columbus Crew | 4 - 0 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Lower.com Field |
| 10/27/2025 | FC Cincinnati | 1 - 0 | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 07/12/2025 | FC Cincinnati | 2 - 4 | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 05/17/2025 | Columbus Crew | 1 - 1 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Lower.com Field |
| 09/14/2024 | FC Cincinnati | 0 - 0 | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 05/11/2024 | Columbus Crew | 1 - 2 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Lower.com Field |
| 12/02/2023 | FC Cincinnati | 2 - 3 (AET) | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
| 08/20/2023 | Columbus Crew | 3 - 0 | FC Cincinnati | Major League Soccer | Lower.com Field |
| 05/20/2023 | FC Cincinnati | 3 - 2 | Columbus Crew | Major League Soccer | TQL Stadium |
11/08/2025
11/02/2025
10/27/2025
07/12/2025
05/17/2025
09/14/2024
05/11/2024
12/02/2023
08/20/2023
05/20/2023
Columbus Crew Win
FC Cincinnati Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 14 GD: +18
P: 12 GD: +11
P: 14 GD: +8
P: 14 GD: +4
P: 14 GD: +4
P: 13 GD: +7
P: 13 GD: +2
P: 14 GD: -1
P: 15 GD: -10
P: 14 GD: -13
P: 13 GD: -1
P: 15 GD: -6
P: 14 GD: -9
P: 12 GD: -5
P: 15 GD: -9
League Standings
P: 23 GD: +30
P: 22 GD: +15
P: 21 GD: +11
P: 22 GD: +9
P: 22 GD: +8
P: 22 GD: -2
P: 23 GD: +5
P: 22 GD: -14
P: 22 GD: -17
P: 22 GD: -6
P: 22 GD: -8
P: 22 GD: -5
P: 22 GD: -13
P: 22 GD: -16
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
First-Half Fireworks Fuel Columbus Crew's Dramatic Rivalry Win
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 71/100. An early setback only awakened the hosts, who unleashed a relentless attacking wave to flip the script before halftime and secure massive bragging rights in Ohio.
The Early Shock
Under the lights at Lower.com Field, the Stakes were palpable for this pivotal Eastern Conference clash. FC Cincinnati came out swinging, looking to solidify their playoff positioning. They wasted no time putting the home side on their heels. Just nine minutes into the contest, Evander threaded a beautiful ball forward. He found K. Denkey, who fired a clean strike into the back of the net. The early opener completely shifted the Balance of the opening stages. The visitors seemed perfectly content to absorb pressure. They relied on their defensive shape while the hosts desperately sought a way back into a game that threatened to slip away before it even truly began.
The Turnaround
Trailing by a goal, the Columbus Crew cranked the Intensity up to suffocating levels. They edged possession with 53% of the ball, dictating the tempo and forcing Cincinnati into uncomfortable areas. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 41st minute. D. Chambost delivered a perfectly weighted pass to J. Thiare, who expertly buried the equalizer. But the drama was far from over. Deep into first-half stoppage time, relentless Columbus pressure yielded a golden opportunity. D. Gazdag stepped up to the spot in the 45th minute and converted with ice in his veins. In the span of just five minutes, the home side transformed a deficit into a thrilling halftime advantage.
The Gritty Finish
The second half turned into a tactical grind. The visitors pushed desperately for a lifeline, keeping the Upset Factor alive until the final moments. A combined 24 shots turned the pitch into a veritable shooting gallery. Cincinnati stayed in the hunt largely thanks to Roman Celentano. The goalkeeper put on an absolute clinic with four crucial saves. Despite his heroics, the Crew's defense held firm. They leaned on their 91% passing accuracy to manage the clock and frustrate the opposition. Tensions ultimately boiled over in stoppage time when G. Valenzuela was shown a straight red card. The 94th-minute dismissal snuffed out any remaining hope for Cincinnati, allowing Columbus to celebrate a massive victory.
Key Questions
How did the red card for G. Valenzuela impact the match?
G. Valenzuela's straight red card in the 94th minute ended any lingering hopes for an FC Cincinnati equalizer, sealing the hard-fought 2-1 victory for Columbus.
What made Roman Celentano the Man of the Match?
Roman Celentano kept FC Cincinnati in the contest with a stellar 8.7-rated performance, making four crucial saves to deny Columbus a much wider margin of victory.
How did Columbus Crew complete the comeback from behind?
Trailing early, Columbus responded with a 41st-minute equalizer from J. Thiare and took the lead just before halftime through a clutch penalty kick by D. Gazdag.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Defensive Frailties Guarantee Fireworks in Ohio
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 61/100. An absolute must-watch for neutrals craving goals, as two notoriously leaky backlines prepare to deal with blazing attacking talent.
The Setup
The Columbus Crew welcome FC Cincinnati to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field for a classic regular-season clash. The Crew sit 10th in the table, trailing 7th-placed Cincinnati by four points. A modest Stakes rating reflects the mid-season nature of Matchday 19, but local pride ensures a fiery contest. Cincinnati’s defense collapses on the road, leaking nearly three goals a game. That chaotic Form sets the perfect stage for a shootout. Despite the bookmakers heavily backing the hosts, a tight Balance metric suggests the visitors have enough firepower to keep things competitive.
Key Battle
Hugo Picard offers a crucial spark for the hosts, tallying two goals and an assist recently. But the real story is Evander. Cincinnati's talisman brings an off-the-charts Stars rating to this fixture, pulling all the creative strings in the final third. Picard must relentlessly exploit the spaces Evander leaves behind when the visitors commit bodies forward.
Our Prediction
Expect absolute chaos. Columbus has the home advantage, but Cincinnati's attack is too lethal to silence right now. Our take is a thrilling 2-2 draw where both defenses are left chasing shadows for ninety minutes.