Intense Rivalry Spurs Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati Showdown

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Tension is high as the Columbus Crew prepare to face FC Cincinnati in a highly anticipated match on Saturday, May 17, at Lower.com Field. Columbus (7-1-5) is currently chasing Cincinnati (9-3-1), which sits at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Despite recent struggles, Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy remains confident. “My team will never be an underdog,” he stated ahead of the game. “It’s a game. Let’s start the game, and we will see.” Columbus is eager to shake off the disappointment of not securing a victory in recent outings.

The matchup has added intrigue due to comments made by Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan regarding Nancy’s coaching style. In a recent documentary, Noonan criticized what he called the use of “crazy, made-up words” by some coaches, which some interpreted as a jab at Nancy. However, Noonan later clarified that his comments were taken out of context.

Adding further context to the rivalry, Columbus enters the match ranked third in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind Cincinnati. The Crew’s recent performances include a draw against CF Montreal, while Cincinnati comes off a narrow 1-0 win midweek.

Key players to watch include Columbus’ Diego Rossi, who leads the team with six goals this season, and Cincinnati’s attacking duo of Evander and Kévin Denkey, both with seven goals.

Injuries have plagued both teams, but Cincinnati received good news with the expected return of forward Luca Orellano and defender Matt Miazga. “I think it’s two good teams that have mutual respect for each other,” Noonan remarked, acknowledging the rivalry’s intensity.

Kickoff for the match is set for 7:15 p.m. Fans can catch the action on Alt 105.7 FM, La Grande 103.1 FM, or stream via Apple TV.