FC Cincinnati captain Kendall Waston said this Sunday night’s #HellisReal Derby is critical for the Orange and Blue and won’t downplay the match’s significance.
“The reality is if we win this game, the happiness for the fans is obviously encouragement to help us finish the end of the season the best as possible," the Costa Rican center back said.
FCC host the Crew at Nippert Stadium after the clubs drew, 2-2, at MAPFRE Stadium on Aug. 10. Then, Cincinnati took a two-goal lead against its biggest rival and earned its first result since July 13 at the Chicago Fire.
“It was a nice game in Columbus and now it’s going to be a battle here at home with a full stadium,” Waston said. “I know it’s going to be packed and everyone is going to be ready and that’s going to be a very, very nice environment.”
When FC Cincinnati last hosted Columbus in the Queen City, FCC won, 1-0, in a 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match. Cincinnati is unbeaten against their northern rival and Waston said he wants to continue that streak.
“It won’t change (what happened earlier this season), but at least we can win something for the fans,” he said. “They’ve been supporting us all this season through difficult moments. What we want now is to win and to bring some happiness.”
