Columbus Crew x FC Cincinnati

Sunday night marked the return of the MLS regular season and the resurgence of the Columbus Crew's dominance in the Hell is Real Derby. From the revealing of the tifo to the final whistle, the Columbus Crew outshone FC Cincinnati in all aspects of their 3-0 victory at Lower.com Field.

The Crew took the lead 15 minutes into the game when Homegrown midfielder Aidan Morris executed a remarkable shot from outside the box. Yeboah orchestrated a sequence of passes, eventually delivering the ball to Morris, who skillfully netted a back-post strike past Roman Celetano, causing jubilation among Black & Gold supporters.

The lead doubled in the 23rd minute through Cucho Hernández's penalty conversion. While Columbus dominated, Cincinnati's performance lacked intensity. The Crew effectively silenced their rivals, only facing a threatening moment with a goal-line clearance.

Jacen Russell-Rowe added to the score in stoppage time of the second half, securing a commanding victory. This win marked the beginning of the MLS regular season after a mid-July hiatus. With 10 games remaining, the Crew aims to secure a postseason spot and potentially face Cincinnati again.

Wilfried Nancy's absence from the touchline due to suspension was notable during the derby win. He will return next week for the Trillium Cup clash with Toronto FC at Lower.com Field. Several Crew players made their league debuts, including Julian Gressel and the newly signed Diego Rossi, who earned standing ovations for their impactful contributions. Rudy Camacho and Yevhen Cheberko bolstered the backline, taming the league leaders. The Crew's convincing performance highlighted their potential to make a late-season run and excel in the playoffs.

[Photography by Sean Faska and Tyler]