To kickoff Hell Is Real week, Columbus Crew 2 welcomed in FC Cincinnati 2 to Historic Crew Stadium, for their first taste of the rivalry. Granted, it’s no first team, but still the bitter taste of hatred is there.

Columbus Crew 2 welcomed back Jacen Russel-Rowe to the lineup for his first match back with the donned ‘Capybara’s’ since his first team contract signing just a while back ago.

First Half

Both Columbus and Cincinnati held their own possession just a quarter hour in. It was Columbus who would be the more dominant side of the two, as their pressure on the Cincinnati backline would cause havoc. Passes in the final third would escape the Crew, however they were able to regain their composure.

Issac AngKing would have a good look for the Black & Gold from just outside of the 18-yard box, but his shot would go high over the crossbar.

The Crew would have another chance just a minute later, being awarded a free kick from 25-yards out. Nothing would come of the ensuing kick, keeping the score deadlocked at 0-0.

In the 25th minute, Daniel Strachan would give Columbus a 1-0 lead with a chip shot from distance that would beat the keeper.

Daniel Strachan chips the keeper from distance! ?@ColumbusCrew2 1-0 pic.twitter.com/JcUlhhmJS8

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) July 16, 2022

Crew 2 would get other opportunities later in the half, but couldn’t convert on the generated chances.

The Black & Gold did keep the pressure on Cincinnati that would allow for the aforementioned chances to come to fruition, garnering 57% of the possession stat just 10 minutes before halftime.

JRR is back

After signing a first team contract a few weeks back, Jacen Russel-Rowe continued his hot scoring streak in MLS Next Pro as his curling shot to the back post from inside the penalty area found the back of the net giving Columbus a 2-0 lead.

?️ Jacen “goal-scoring machine” Russell-Rowe ?️@ColumbusCrew2 2-0 pic.twitter.com/kMF5iuvlp8

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) July 16, 2022

Second Half

The Crew did not let their foot off of the gas in the second half, getting into more advanced spots in the final third and generating chances.

With 65% of possession through 70 minutes, Columbus had Cincinnati pinned back in their own defensive half throwing everything everything but the kitchen sink at the Orange & Blue.

Marco Micaletto gave Columbus a 3-0 lead when Coleman Gannon dribbled around a defender and into the box, sliding the ball to the top of the 18-yard box where Micaletto put it in the back of the net one time.

Marco Micaletto makes it 3️⃣!@ColumbusCrew2 3-0 pic.twitter.com/jcemtHztww

— MLS NEXT Pro (@MLSNEXTPRO) July 17, 2022

Columbus wasn’t done, however. Russel-Rowe would tap in a rebound shot from Strachan to make the lead grow to 4-0 in the 82nd minute.

Columbus would keep the lead and win the game 4-0 over FC Cincinnati 2.