RECAP | Columbus Crew 1, FC Cincinnati 2

FC Cincinnati made history with the club’s first win at the home of Columbus Crew in the first Hell is Real matchup of the 2024 season with a 2-1 win at Lower.com Field Saturday night. 

Cincinnati improved to 7-2-3 (24 points) with their fourth-straight win. Columbus Crew dropped to 3-2-6 (15 points) as they continue to look for their first league win since mid-March. 

Cincinnati’s win marked the 50th win across all competitions for FCC Head Coach Pat Noonan. 

In a defensive battle, newcomer Kevin Kelsy broke the deadlock and put a header into the back of the net for his first-career goal for the Orange and Blue in his second appearance for FCC. In the 74th minute, Luciano ‘Lucho’ Acosta found the head of Kelsy with a cross across the box to send FCC ahead. 

Two minutes later, the reigning MLS Most Valuable Player Lucho Acosta got on the end of a pass from Pavel Bucha and battled a Columbus defender inside the box and sent a right footer into the back of the net. 

The Crew scored late but FC Cincinnati held on for the club’s fifth road win of the season.

AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Kevin Kelsy, GOAL – 74’ (0-1) – FC Cincinnati brought pressure into Crew territory as multiple Orange and Blue jerseys crowded the box. Luciano Acosta drove his dribble up against the right post and chipped a pass over a sliding defender towards Kelsy. Kelsy was able to connect with his head and found the back of the net for his first goal with Cincinnati.

CIN: Luciano Acosta, GOAL – 76’ (0-2) – After getting out to a 1-0 lead in the 74th minute, the Orange and Blue continued to pressure the Columbus defense. Pavel Bucha found Acosta on the left post from just outside the penalty area. Acosta sent a strike past a diving Patrick Schulte and into the net for his second goal contribution of the match.

CLB: Max Arfsten, GOAL – 89’ (1-2) – Following back-to-back goals from Cincinnati, Columbus attacked the box and a shot that was taken by Sean Zawadzki was blocked into the path of Arfsten. From inside the box, he dribbled around a defender and fired a left footer past Celentano.

FC Cincinnati return home to TQL Stadium for two matches next week beginning on Wednesday, May 15 against Atlanta United at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK) and the match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and fans can also listen to the match on ESPN 1530.

The Orange and Blue will also host St. Louis CITY SC for Salute to Service on Saturday, May 18, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES
- FC Cincinnati earned a road win at Columbus for the first time in club history.
- Luciano Acosta has recorded a goal contribution in six-straight matches … He is one game shy of matching his own club record of seven-straight (April 24-May 28, 2022).
- Acosta recorded his third game of the season with multiple goal contributions … Acosta extended his club record in total games with multiple goal contributions (2+ goals or assists) to 25 across all competitions, 22 in regular season play.
- Kevin Kelsy scored his first goal for FC Cincinnati, becoming the eighth player to score for the first time this season.
- FC Cincinnati scored two goals in three minutes for the second time this season (April 20 at ATL: Orellano 62’, Acosta 64’).
- Head Coach Pat Noonan earned his 50th win as coach of FC Cincinnati.
- FC Cincinnati lead MLS with five road wins.
- FC Cincinnati are 21-4 in one-goal games over the past two seasons.

FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at Columbus Crew
Date: May 11, 2024
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Lower.com Field
Attendance: 20,900
Kickoff: 7:55 p.m. ET
Weather: 60 degrees, clear

SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
CLB: 0-1-1
CIN: 0-2-2

CLB – Max Arfsten 89’

CIN – Kevin Kelsy (Acosta, Bucha) 74’, Luciano Acosta (Bucha, Orellano) 76’

LINEUPS
CIN: Roman Celentano, Luca Orellano, Ian Murphy, Matt Miazga, Miles Robinson, Alvas Powell (Gerardo Valenzuela 14’), Pavel Bucha, Obinna Nwobodo, Luciano Acosta (C) (Malik Pinto 87’), Yuya Kubo, Corey Baird (Kevin Kelsy 67’)

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Nick Hagglund, Kipp Keller, Sergio Santos, Isaiah Foster, Stiven Jimenez

Head Coach: Pat Noonan

CLB: Patrick Schulte, Rudy Camacho, Malte Amundsen, Steven Moreira, Darlington Nagbe (C), Aidan Morris (Yaw Yeboah 70’), Alexandru Matan (Max Arfsten 81’), Sean Zawadzki, Cucho Hernandez, Diego Rossi, Jacen Russell-Rowe (Christian Ramirez 81’)

Substitutes not used: Nicholas Hagen, Will Sands, Derrick Jones, Marino Hinestroza, Taha Habroune, Yevhen Cheberko

Head Coach: Wilfried Nancy

STATS SUMMARY: CLB/CIN
Shots: 14 / 9
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 8 / 16
Offside: 0 / 1
Possession: 53.9 / 46.1

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Matt Miazga (Yellow Card) 34’
CIN – Yuya Kubo (Yellow Card) 37’
CLB – Sean Zawadzki (Yellow Card) 38’
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo (Yellow Card) 70’
CLB – Rudy Camacho (Yellow Card) 80’

OFFICIALS 
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Ast. Referees: Andrew Bigelow, Jeffrey Swartzel
Fourth Official: Joshua Encarnacion
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Peter Balciunas