Columbus Crew record dominant win vs Cincinnati in Game 2 of Hell is Real playoff series

Story by

Story by
Columbus Crew record dominant win vs Cincinnati in Game 2 of Hell is Real playoff series

Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Sun, Nov 2, 2025 ·

8 min read

About Our Ads

The Crew have tied up their Hell is Real, best-of-three Hell is Real series against FC Cincinnati with a 4-0 victory at Lower.com Field on Nov. 2.

Midfielder Max Arfsten started the scoring at the 33-minute mark, making a move around goalkeeper Roman Celentano to take a shot on an open goal. Crew team-leading scorer Diego Rossi assisted on the goal.

In the 38th minute, the Crew were awarded a free kick following a yellow-card foul shown to Cincinnati midfielder Yuya Kubo .

Columbus Crew forward Max Arfsten (27) scores past FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano (18) during the second game of the first round MLS Cup Playoffs match at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Nov. 2, 2025.

The foul was Kubo's second yellow card violation, resulting in a red card for the midfielder and leaving Cincinnati with 10 players the rest of the game.

Crew midfielder Dylan Chambost scored off the free kick to extend the advantage to 2-0 going into halftime.

During the second half, midfielder Andres Herrera recorded his third goal in four games in the 65th minute off an assist from forward Jacen Russell-Rowe .

Russell-Rowe, a second-half substitute, quickly found a goal of his own less than five minutes later, to solidify the Crew's 4-0 victory.

Cincinnati was held to one shot throughout the matchup while the Crew took 19, nine on goal.

The Crew dropped Game 1 of the series 1-0 on Oct. 27. Game 3 is set for Nov. 8 in Cincinnati, with the kickoff time still to be announced.

(81') Rudy Camacho makes first appearance for Columbus Crew in 2025

Crew defender Rudy Camacho entered his first game of the 2025 season, replacing Steven Moreira in the lineup. Camacho has been sidelined all season with a thigh injury.

Midfielder Amar Sejdic also entered the lineup, replacing Taha Habroune .

Score:Crew 4-0

(75') Evander Da Silva Ferreira given yellow card for FC Cincinnati

Cincinnati midfielder Evander Da Silva Ferreira was given a yellow card after shoving Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe during a shuffle between the two teams.

Score:Crew 4-0

(70') Columbus Crew make multiple substitutions following fourth goal vs FC Cincinnati

Forward Daniel Gazdag entered the matchup, replacing Andres Herrera as one of the Crew's two substitutions following Jacen Russell-Rowe's goal. Midfielder Lassi Lappalainen replaced Dylan Chambost.

Score:Crew 4-0

(69') Jacen Russell-Rowe scores fourth goal for Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati

Less than five minutes after recording an assist, Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe snuck in a goal of his own past goalkeeper Roman Celentano to extend the lead to four goals.

Crew:Crew 4-0

(65') Andres Herrera scores, extending Columbus Crew's lead to 3-0 vs FC Cincinnati

Crew midfielder Andres Herrera scored his third goal in four games, finding a shot near the right goalpost off a cross from forward Jacen Russell-Rowe.

Score:Crew 3-0

(61') Diego Rossi leaves Game 2 vs FC Cincinnati

Crew team-leading scorer Diego Rossi was substituted out of Game 2, being replaced by forward Jacen Russell-Rowe.

Score:Crew 2-0

Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati Game 2 first-half stats

Shots: Crew (10), Cincinnati (1)

Shots on goal: Crew (6) Cincinnati (0)

Goalkeeper saves: Crew (0), Cincinnati (4)

Fouls: Crew (8), Cincinnati (7)

(41') Columbus Crew capitalize on free kick, extend lead vs FC Cincinnati

Crew midfielder Dylan Chambost scored off the free kick awarded for the red card violation charged to Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo.

Kubo's foul against Crew midfielder Andres Herrera occurred right outside the right corner of Cincinnati's box. Both Chambost and forward Diego Rossi lined up like they were going to take the kick, but Chambost executed it, sending his shot to the top, right corner of Cincinnati's goal.

Score:Crew 2-0

(38') FC Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo given red card

Midfielder Yuya Kubo was ejected after receiving a second yellow card for a foul against Crew midfielder Andres Herrera, leading to a red card. Kubo's ejection leaves Cincinnati down a player for the rest of the matchup.

Score:Crew 1-0

(32') Columbus Crew take 1-0 lead vs FC Cincinnati

Midfielder Max Arfsten gives the Crew a 1-0 advantage, scoring off an assist from forward Diego Rossi.

Off a long pass upfield, Rossi beat out a Cincinnati defender to gain control of the ball at the top of the box. Sending the ball to Arfsten on the left, Arfsten made a move past goalkeeper Roman Celentano, who was attempting to make a play on the ball, and scored on an open goal.

Score:Crew 1-0

(30') FC Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson handed yellow card following collision with Diego Rossi

Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson was given a yellow card after colliding with forward Diego Rossi while tracking a long ball upfield.

Score:0-0

(28') Columbus Crew take three consecutive corner kicks, fail to score

The Crew had three back-to-back, and though there was a battle with Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano to create a shot on the third attempt, the Crew were unable to capitalize on the opportunities.

Score:0-0

(13') Diego Rossi's shot opportunity gets broken up

Crew forward Diego Rossi created a breakaway with the ball and was setting up to take a shot inside Cincinnati's box when defender Miles Robinson caught up to Rossi. Robinson recorded a block on Rossi's shot attempt, ending the play.

Score:0-0

(7') Columbus Crew awarded free kick on FC Cincinnati yellow card

The Crew were awarded a free kick outside the right corner of Cincinnati's box following a yellow-card foul charged to midfielder Yuya Kubo.

The Crew midfielder Dylan Chambost created a shot on target 7off the free kick that was saved by goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

Score:0-0

(3') Columbus Crew's Hugo Picard kicks FC Cincinnati GK Roman Celentano while attempting shot

Crew forward Hugo Picard was attempting to create a shot from a cross from midfielder Taha Habroune near the goal line when Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano dove to stop the play.

In attempting the shot, Picard accidentally kicked Celentano in the head. Celentano was quickly evaluated for a head injury on the field and was able to remain in the game.

Score:0-0

Columbus Crew injury report for Game 2 vs FC Cincinnati

The Crew are without striker Wessam Abou Ali and midfielder Mo Farsi for Game 2.

Abou Ali was sidelined with a hairline fracture in his right ankle against Toronto FC on Sept. 20, while Farsi is recovering from a sports hernia surgery he underwent in September. Farsi has been unavailable since July 12.

FC Cincinnati starting lineup vs Columbus Crew in Game 2

Here is the starting 11 for Cincinnati vs Columbus:

GK: Roman Celentano
DF: Teenage Hadebe
DF: Alvas Powell
DF: Miles Robinson
MF: Pavel Bucha
MF: Evander da Silva Ferreira
MF: Ender Echenique
MF: Samuel Gidi
MF: Yuya Kubo
FW: Kevin Denkey
FW: Brenner Souza

Columbus Crew starting lineup vs FC Cincinnati in Game 2

Here is the starting 11 for Columbus vs Cincinnati:

GK: Patrick Schulte
DF: Malte Amundsen
DF: Steven Moreira
DF: Sean Zawadzki
MF: Max Arfsten
MF: Dylan Chambost
MF: Taha Habroune
MF: Andres Herrera
MF: Darlington Nagbe
FW: Hugo Picard
FW: Diego Rossi

Who are the referees for Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati Game 2?

Here are the officials for the Crew vs Cincinnati tonight:

Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Assistant Referee 1: Nick Uranga

Assistant Referee 2: Ian McKay

Fourth Official: Ricardo Montero Araya

VAR: Timothy Ford

Assistant VAR: Mike Kampmeinert

Results from MLS Cup first-round series in Eastern Conference

(1) Philadelphia Union defeat (8) Chicago Fire 4-2 in penalty kicks (Game 1), 3-0 (Game 2): Philadelphia advances to Eastern Conference semifinals
(3) Inter Miami defeats (6) Nashville SC 3-1 (Game 1), Nashville defeats Miami 2-1 (Game 2): Game 3 scheduled for
(5) New York City FC defeats by (4) Charlotte FC 1-0 (Game 1), Charlotte defeats NYCFC 7-6 in penalty kicks (Game 2): Game 2 scheduled for

How to listen to Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati radio broadcast

The Crew vs. Cincinnati English-speaking radio broadcast will be on Alt 105.7 FM and available via the iHeartRadio app. Columbus' regular radio broadcaster Chris Doran will be on the call.

The Spanish radio broadcast can be found on La Grande 103.1 FM and the La Grande radio app, with Juan Valladares doing play-by-play.

Columbus Crew-FC Cincinnati Game 2 streaming information

Game 2 of the Crew-Cincinnati playoff matchup will be available on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass.

MLS Season Pass is available for the playoffs with a free Apple TV login. Here are the broadcast teams for tonight:

English broadcast (Apple TV): Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst)
Spanish broadcast (Apple TV): Sammy Sadovnik (play-by-play), Diego Valeri (analyst)

Kickoff time for Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati in Game 2 of MLS Cup first-round playoff series

Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Lower.com Field.

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs Cincinnati replay in Game 2 of Hell is Real series

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: