Desperate times call for desperate measures, but in the Black & Gold’s must-win playoff fixture, the only side in despair was FC Cincinnati.

The Columbus Crew won out as 4-0 victors over FC Cincinnati on Sunday night in Round One, Game 2 of their best-of-three series. Goals from Max Arfsten, Dylan Chambost, Andres Herrera, and Jacen Russell-Rowe inspired the Black & Gold’s triumph, emboldened by a straight red card for FCC’s Yuya Kubo in the first half to bring the visitors down to ten men. The win means the final match of the series, Game 3, will take place on November 8th in Cincinnati, as FC Cincinnati took home Game 1 in a 1-0 victory over the Black & Gold on Monday. The winner of Game 3 will move on to the Eastern Conference semifinals to face either Inter Miami CF or Nashville SC.

With their 2025 MLS Cup hopes hanging in the balance, the Columbus Crew brushed FC Cincinnati aside confidently, with the statement win added to an ever-growing list of famous triumphs over their Ohio rivals.

Max Arfsten broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute. Diego Rossi chased down a lobbed ball into the final third, winning possesion from Alvas Powell and poking the ball thorugh to Arfsten. Arfsten took a touch to control the ball, and with Roman Celentano quickly approaching, used his right foot to dribble around the keeper and fired the ball into the roof of the net with his left.

FC Cincinnati were diminished to 10 men in the 38th minute as Kubo brought down Herrera at the edge of the 18-yard box. Herrera chased down a through ball from Rossi when Kubo, the last defender, made a sliding challenge from behind, bringing Herrera down without making contact with the ball. Despite receiving a yellow card earlier on in the match, Kubo received a straight red card for the foul and will miss Game 3 of the series.

On the ensuing free kick, Chambost performed a stroke of brilliance. With the ball positioned on the right side of the top of the 18-yard box, Chambost curled the ball with his left foot over the wall into the bottom right corner of the net. Celentano dove the right way, but the ball was past his outstretched reach.

Second half substitute Russell-Rowe spearheaded an attack that saw Herrera bring the Black & Gold’s lead to 3-0 in the 65th minute. Chasing a lobbed through ball from Taha Habroune, Russell-Rowe spinted down the left flank before sending a low cross into the six-yard box. Herrera, in the right place at the right time, took a touch with his right foot before kocking the ball into the back of the net with his left.

Just four minutes later, it was Russell-Rowe himself who found himself on the scoresheet. Similarly to the previous goal, it was Arfsten this time who sent a left-footed cross into the penalty area. Russell-Rowe slid in to make contact with the ball, poking it with power into the bottom left corner of the net.

Post-game, Head Coach Wilfried Nancy remarked that the Black & Gold’s play in Game 2 was similar to that in Game 1, the difference being the “time edge we created.”

“Tonight, everything was clean in terms of when we unbalanced them, we kept them behind us. For me, this is the good point. Obviously, we played with a lot of passion. When we play like that — not only offensively but defensively — the mindset, this is something that is diffifult to cope,” Nancy said. “Really pleased with the guys because it was not an easy task playing Cincinnati. This is all the time difficult. They know and we knew that it was a do-or-die [match]. To play with this kind of personality in a game like this, well done.”

Nancy spoke highly of his players’ performance, plarticular on competing with themselves to be better.

“…the first game we fall on the ground like the French crepe. Today we were stronger,” Nancy said. “I think that in terms of a competetive mindset, this desire to get better — not to prove to the opposition that we are better — the desire to be better, when we are like this and when we have this growth mindset, this is really interesting. That’s why I think tonight it was a good game.”

Arfsten, who contributed a goal and in assist in the match, spoke on what led the team to a powerful offensive performance.

“Yeah, obviously the red card kind of played into effect for the rest of the game. But even when it was 11v11, I mean, I just felt we came out with intensity. I truly think the crowd helped us with energy and just coming out fllying,” Arfsten said. “Yeah, I think we kind of played a little ugly at times, which I think we need to keep adding to our game, becuase, of courese, we can play and make all the good passes, but in these types of games, I think you got to be ugly sometimes. I think, you know, we did that tonight.”

Herrera noted that Nancy’s comments at halftime spurred on the Black & Gold’s push for more, despite already being up two goals and their opponent down to 10 men.

“Coach [Wilfried Nancy] had said when we went in for halftime that we didn’t need to relax,” Herrera said. “It was an intense game, and we had to keep scoring goals to continue to gain confidence with the team for the next match. I think that is what was shown in the second half.”

Game 3 of the Black & Gold’s best-of-three series against FC Cincinnati will take place on Saturday, November 8th at TQL Stadium, though the kickoff time is yet to be determined.