FC Cincinnati 1 – Columbus Crew 3
The Columbus Crew dominated the second leg of the Hell is Real Derby, punishing FC Cincinnati 3-1 in front of a packed Nippert Stadium on Sunday. Behind two class goals from Columbus Gyasi Zardes, the Crew won the match that was high on energy but with both teams near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, low on playoff implications.
With both teams playing a high, pressing style, both teams struggled to find consistent offensive runs early in the first half. However, the Crew were able to break through in the 22nd minute. With Columbus able to get consistent pressure up the right flank, midfielder Luis Diaz was able produce a picturesque curl into the box that connected with Zardes, who was able to slot it into the upper right corner for the opening goal.
The American International was not done scoring for the night. Just eleven minutes later, he would make it 2-0. Crew defender Harrison Afful played a ball over the top to Zardes, who chested the ball down to his feet for a chip over the right shoulder of Cincinnati keeper Przemyslaw Tyton and into the back of the net.
Diaz was able to punctuate a fantastic first half for the Crew with an extra time goal coming off of a swift run up the right flank past defender Andrew Gutman and over the outstretched fingers of Tyton to cap off a dominating first half for the Crew.
Cincinnati played the second half with more pluck in the second half but such an insurmountable lead, goal scoring confidence was hard to come by. They were able to get some consolation in the closing minutes, thanks to a Kekuta Manneh goal in the 89th minute. The Gambian winger was able to connect with an Emmanuel Ledesma through ball to get one back for the Orange and Blue, but it was too little, too late for the team from the Wueen City.
The Crew will hope to carry some of this momentum into their home match against the Chicago Fire, as they slowly hope to inch their way back into the playoff picture, as they currently sit seven points back of the final playoff spot. FC Cincinnati will hit the road on Saturday as they take on FC Dallas, who are coming off of a pasting of the Houston Dynamo.
On hand to cover the match was Prost Photographer Craig Hunter. You can check out his full gallery of FC Cincinnati photos on SmugMug and give him your thoughts on Twitter.
FC Cincinnati
Columbus Crew
