FC Cincinnati Faces Columbus Crew in Playoff Opener Tonight

Cincinnati, OH — FC Cincinnati hosts the Columbus Crew tonight at 6:45 PM ET in Game 1 of their Best-of-3 playoff series. This match, part of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, showcases the fierce ‘Hell is Real’ rivalry.

Cincinnati, the No. 2 seed, comes into the playoff after finishing the regular season strong, earning 20 wins and topping the league in matches played. They secured their playoff position by defeating CF Montreal 3-0 on October 18, with standout player Lucho Acosta contributing significantly with 33 goal contributions this season.

The Crew, seeded No. 7, barely avoided the Wild Card match on the final day of the regular season. Their playoff hopes were revived thanks to a vital victory against the New York Red Bulls, winning 3-1 at home. Columbus is focused on making a deep playoff run, led by their captain, who is retiring at the season’s end.

Head coach Pat Noonan of Cincinnati noted, “We need to capitalize on our momentum from the regular season,” highlighting the importance of maintaining focus. Meanwhile, Crew goalkeeper spoke about the team’s growth heading into the playoffs, saying, “Ending the regular season with a win elevates our spirits and prepares us for this challenge.”

The winner of this series will move on to face either the No. 3 or No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, scheduled for November 22-23. If a match is tied after 90 minutes, the winner will be decided by a penalty kick shootout.

Fans can catch the action on various platforms, including local radio stations and online streaming services.