The Columbus Dispatch

Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati Hell is Real match ends in scoreless draw: Replay

By Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch,

2 days ago

CINCINNATI - The Crew's second Hell is Real rivalry match of the season against FC Cincinnati was an equal battle from beginning to end, and finished in a 0-0 draw at TQL Stadium.

Neither Columbus nor Cincinnati made it easy for its opponent to get near the in their respective goal, blocking passes going into the box at every one-on-one opportunity. For the shots both teams did take, Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte or Cincinnati's Roman Celentano, was there to record a save or hit the ball out of play.

In the first minute of the seven minutes of stoppage time int the second half, Columbus and Cincinnati were tied with a 50% possession rate, indicating how closely the game was contested.

Despite 17 shot attempts throughout the match, ten from Columbus and seven from Cincinnati, near team was able to connect. The only time the ball found the back of a net was a shot from Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta in the first half that was overturned after Acosta was called offsides.

With the draw, both the Crew and Cincinnati secured a spot in the 204 MLS Cup playoffs.

(90+5) FC Cincinnati make stoppage time substituitons

With time running out in the second half, Cincinnati made three substitutions:

Foward Gerardo Valenzuela for midfielder Luciano Acosta
Defender London Aghedo for midfielder Yya Kubo
Midfielder Corey Baird for forward Nicholas Gioacchini

(88') FC Cincinnati Obinna Nwobodo earns yellow card

Following a foul against Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe, Cincinnati midfielder Obinna Nwobodo was given a yellow card. This is Cincinnati's second of the match.

(86') Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati made additional substitutions

First, Cincinnati replaced midfielder Luca Orellano with Yamil Asad. Moments later, the Crew replaced midfielder Mo Farsi with Andres Herrera.

FC Cincinnati announces sellout crowd vs Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium

The Crew vs Cincinnati Hell is Real rivalry match had a sellout crowd of 25,513 at TQL Stadium. This is Cincinnati's 12th sell out of the season.

(73') Columbus Crew make three substitutions vs FC Cincinnati

Columbus made its first round of substitutions:

Forward Jacen Russell-Rowe replaces Christian Ramirez
Midfielder DeJuan Jones replaces Max Arfsten
Defender Malte Amundsen replaces midfielder Alex Matan

With Matan leaving the match, Sean Zawadzki moves from the backline to center midfield. Amundsen replaces Zawadzki on the backline.

(78') FC Cincinnati yellow card given to Chidozie Awaziem after following Cucho Hernandez

Cincinnati defender Chidozie Awaziem was given a yellow card, the team's first, after fouling Crew striker Cucho Hernandez outside Cincinnati's box. Columbus was awarded a free kick but made nothing of the opportunity.

(76') FC Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell's shot attempt goes far left

Cincinnati defender Alvas Powell sent his first shot attempt of the match from long distance, multiple feet outside the Crew's box, but aimed the shot too far left.

(75') Columbus Crew defender Sean Zawadzki's header attempt save following corner kick

The Crew were awarded a corner kick, which once again forward Diego Rossi executed. Sending the ball into the box, past Cincinnati's goal, Rossi's attempt found defender Sean Zawadzki. Zawadzki took a one-touch header attempt but failed to score with goalkeeper Roman Celentano recording a save.

(71') FC Cincinnati makes first substitution vs Columbus Crew

With the first substitution of the match, Cincinnati replaces forward Kevin Kelsy with Sergio Santos. Prior to the substitution, Cincinnati defender Chidozie Awaziem looked like he might need medical attention, taking a knee following a hit, but was able to get back up on his own.

(68') Cucho Hernandez given yellow card for arguing with official

Crew striker Cucho Hernandez was arguing with a sideline official over a call made, which led to the first yellow card of the match from referee Joe Dickerson.

(66') FC Cincinnati goalkeeper hits Diego Rossi shot attempt away

Crew forward Diego Rossi took a shot from the right side of the field, but goalkeeper Roman Celentano was able to hit the ball off course in midair, away from the goal.

(62') Cucho Hernandez header goes over FC Cincinnati goal

It was another shot attempt for Crew striker Cucho Hernandez that went over the crossbar in the second half. Hernandez attempted a header in hopes of finding Columbus' first goal, but the shot had too much power.

(58') Rudy Camacho remains in match following apparent head injury

Despite needing medical attention for a head injury following a collision with Cincinnati's Nicholas Gioacchini, Camacho was able to remain in the match after nearly two minutes on the sidelines.

Camacho could be seen holding ice to his head but was cleared to play. Gioacchini also reentered the match with a bandage over his nose.

(52') Columbus Crew's Rudy Camacho blocks FC Cincinnati shot attempt, seconds later injures head in a collision

Both Crew defender Rudy Camacho and goalkeeper Patrick Schulte were in front of the goal when Cincinnati forward Kevin Kelsy took a shot in the middle of Columbus' box. Camacho would block the shot with a header, but while trying to retrieve the ball, got in a collision with Cincinnati forward Nicholas Gioacchini.

Camacho and Gioacchini needed medical attention, Camacho specifically going down while holding his head.

(49') FC Cincinnati takes first corner kick vs Columbus Crew

Cincinnati was awarded the first corner kick of the match when the Crew hit the ball over the goal line on their own side of the field. Midfielder Luca Orellano attempted the corner, sending the ball curving in the air and out of bounds.

(47') Cucho Hernandez opens second half vs FC Cincinnati with long shot attempt

With the ball above Cincinnati's box, striker Cucho Hernandez took the first shot attempt of the second half. Hernandez launched the ball high toward Cincinnati's goal, but the attempt went over the crossbar.

Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati deadlocked at 0-0 going into halftime

Neither Columbus nor Cincinnati was able to score in the first half of the Hell is Real rivalry match.

Columbus and Cincinnati both recorded three shots, one on goal. Cincinnati controlled the possession battle with a 54% possession rate in the first half.

(45') FC Cincinnati goal called back due to offsides

FC Cincinnati midfielder and reigning MVP Luciano Acosta found the back of Columbus' net with a shot from the middle of the box, but officials were quick to call Acosta offsides, overruling the goal.

(44') Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten, Cucho Hernandez fail to connect

From the left side of the field, Crew midfielder Max Arfsten sent a cross to striker Cucho Hernandez, who was crashing in the middle of Cincinnati's box. Hernandez failed to connect with the ball, which led to it going out of bounds, giving Cincinnati the ball.

(34') Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte saves second shot from FC Cincinnati midfielder Luca Orellano

Cincinnati midfielder Luca Orellano tried to get a shot past Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte with Orellano's second attempt of the match, but Schulte once again made a save. Schulte scooped up Orellano's attempt, which came from the right side of the field.

(25') Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte records first save vs FC Cincinnati

For the first time in the match, Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was forced to make a save. From Schulte's left side, Cincinnati midfielder Luca Orellano took a shot attempt, Cincinnati's first of the match, but Schulte made the save by hitting the ball away with his hands.

Less than a minute later, Schulte made a diving save off an attempt from Cincinnati forward Kevn Kelsy.

(20') Columbus Crew take free kick outside FC Cincinnati box

Following forward Christian Ramirez's shot attempt, there was a foul against the Crew on the right side of the field, near Cincinnati's box. With forward Diego Rossi executing the free kick, Cincinnati was able to clear the attempt out of the box and field, toward Columbus' goal.

(18') Christian Ramirez shot attempt saved by FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano

Near Cincinnati's goal, Crew forward Christan Ramirez gained control of the ball off another pass from striker Cucho Hernandez. With just goalkeeper Roman Celentano between Ramirez and the goal, Ramirez to a shot that hit off the hands of Celentano.

(14') Diego Rossi misses on first Columbus Crew shot attempt vs FC Cincinnati

Crew forward Diego Rossi received a pass from striker Cucho Hernandez, who found Rossi making a run on the left side of the field. Rossi was close to Cincinnati's goal when he gained control of the ball, but sent his shot too far left.

Additional players missing for Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati

In addition to the one Crew player listed on the availability report, defender Yevhen Cheberko was missing from the gameday roster. Cheberko has been in Columbus' regular rotation of starters, starting 12 regular season games and earned a CONCACAF Champions Cup best IX honor.

Cincinnati will also be without United States Olympic defender Miles Robinson. Robinson was given a one game suspension due to yellow card accumulation following Cincinnati's match against CF Montreal on Aug. 31. Cincinnati had no games in between, during the FIFA September international window.

FC Cincinnati starting lineup vs Columbus Crew

Here is the starting 11 for Cincinnati vs Columbus:

GK: Roman Celentano
DF: Chidozie Awaziem
DF: Alvas Powell
DF: DeAndre Yedlin
MF: Luciano Acosta
MF: Pavel Bucha
MF: Yuya Kubo
MF: Obinna Nwobodo
MF: Luca Orellano
FW: Nicholas Gioacchini
FW: Kevin Kelsy

Columbus Crew starting lineup vs FC Cincinnati

Here is the starting 11 for Columbus vs Cincinnati:

GK: Patrick Schulte
DF: Rudy Camacho
DF: Steven Moreira
DF: Sean Zawadzki
MF: Max Arfsten
MF: Mo Farsi
MF: Alex Matan
MF: Darlington Nagbe
FW: Cucho Hernandez
FW: Christian Ramirez
FW: Diego Rossi

Who are the referees for Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati?

Here are the officials for the Crew vs Cincinnati on Saturday night:

Referee: Joe Dickerson
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Elliot
Assistant Referee 2: Jason White
Fourth Official: Alexis De Silva
VAR: Younes Marrakchi
Assistant VAR: Jeffrey Greeson

FC Cincinnati availability vs Columbus Crew

Cincinnati official availability report for Saturday:

Isaiah Foster (knee): Out
Nick Hagglund (leg): Out
Alec Kann (hip): Out
Matt Miazga (knee): Out

Columbus Crew availability vs FC Cincinnati

Every Crew player who was away from the club for international play against the Seattle Sounders has returned for the Cincinnati match and will be available. The Crew official availability report:

Evan Bush (arm): Out

English broadcast: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst)
Spanish broadcast: Sammy Saovnik (play-by-play), Diego Valeri (analyst)

When is the Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati?

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

Get more Columbus Crew content by listening to our podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs FC Cincinnati Hell is Real match ends in scoreless draw: Replay