Crew Stun Cincinnati 2-0 in Heated Hell is Real Derby

Columbus Crew Humble FC Cincinnati in Hell is Real Derby

FC Cincinnati’s 55% possession counted for nothing as Columbus Crew staged a ruthless 2-0 smash-and-grab in Major League Soccer’s “Hell is Real” derby, leaving 23,000 home fans shell-shocked at TQL Stadium.

The hosts barely had time to settle before Brais Méndez sliced open Cincinnati’s backline in the 22nd minute, picking out Gonzalo Tapia to slot past Roman Celentano. The Ecuadorian’s celebration in front of the Nordecke traveling support ignited the powder keg — yellow cards flew for Samuel Gidi and Teenage Hadebe as Cincy’s frustration boiled over.

Taha Habroune Seals FC Cincinnati’s Misery

Pat Noonan’s halftime changes failed to stem the bleeding. In the 54th minute, 17-year-old academy product Taha Habroune wrote himself into derby folklore, latching onto Tapia’s through ball to double Crew’s lead against all statistical logic.

The numbers told a brutal story: Cincinnati’s 23 shots (7 on target) versus Columbus’ 3 (2 on target). Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte stood on his head with 7 saves while his back three — including ex-Man United man Eric Bailly — repelled 12 off-target efforts. For all their territorial dominance, Noonan’s side couldn’t break Crew’s defensive blockade.

What This Means for MLS Playoff Race

This wasn’t just three points lost for Cincinnati — it was pride. The Eastern Conference table-toppers saw their 10-match unbeaten streak die in the most painful way imaginable. Meanwhile, Wilfried Nancy’s tactical masterclass propels Columbus into the postseason conversation.

The Hell is Real derby always burns, but October 18, 2026 will sting in Cincy’s memory for years. As the Crew’s traveling band belted “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at full volume, the hosts trudged off wondering how 2.27 xG yielded zero goals. The MLS playoffs loom — and both sides now know the price of wasted chances.