‘Hell is Real’ Columbus Crew origin story ahead of MLS playoffs
Learn from Dispatch trending sports reporter Dan Aulbach on the origin of the Hell is Real rivalry between the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati.
CINCINNATI – The Crew avoided elimination from the MLS Cup playoffs in Game 2 of their series against FC Cincinnati, and now have a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals in Game 3.
After losing Game 1 of the series 1-0 at Cincinnati, the Crew bounced back with a dominant 4-0 win in Game 2 at Lower.com Field.
Returning to TQL Stadium in Cincinnati for a final, winner-take-all matchup, the Crew know the playing field is even once again.
“It will not be the same game,” Crew defender Steven Moreira said. “We are very good when we attack a lot, and we don’t think about the defense so much. So, we have to get there and try to do (that).”
Follow along for live updates from Game 3 of the Crew’s Hell is Real playoff series vs FC Cincinnati.
The Crew are without striker Wessam Abou Ali and midfielder Mo Farsi for Game 3.
Abou Ali was sidelined with a hairline fracture in his right ankle against Toronto FC on Sept. 20, while Farsi is recovering from a sports hernia surgery he underwent in September. Farsi has been unavailable since July 12.
Here is the starting 11 for Cincinnati vs Columbus:
- GK: Roman Celentano
- DF: Teenage Hadebe
- DF: Nick Hagglund
- DF: Miles Robinson
- MF: Pavel Bucha
- MF: Evander da Silva Ferreira
- MF: Ender Echenique
- MF: Lukas Engel
- MF: Samuel Gidi
- FW: Kevin Denkey
- FW: Brenner Souza
Here is the starting 11 for Columbus vs Cincinnati:
- GK: Patrick Schulte
- DF: Malte Amundsen
- DF: Steven Moreira
- DF: Sean Zawadzki
- MF: Max Arfsten
- MF: Dylan Chambost
- MF: Taha Habroune
- MF: Andres Herrera
- MF: Darlington Nagbe
- FW: Hugo Picard
- FW: Diego Rossi
Here are the officials for the Crew vs Cincinnati tonight:
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Assistant Referee 1: Nick Uranga
Assistant Referee 2: Ian McKay
Fourth Official: Ricardo Montero Araya
VAR: Timothy Ford
Here are the officials for the Crew vs Cincinnati tonight:
Referee: Chris Penso
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Elliot
Assistant Referee 2: Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Allen Chapman
VAR: Geoff Gamble
Assistant VAR: Tom Supple
- (1) Philadelphia Union defeated (8) Chicago Fire in two games to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
- (3) Inter Miami and (6) Nashville SC are tied 1-1, with Game 3 scheduled for 8 p.m. Nov. 8.
- (5) New York City FC defeated (4) Charlotte FC in three games to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Crew vs. Cincinnati English-speaking radio broadcast will be on Alt 105.7 FM and available via the iHeartRadio app. Columbus’ regular radio broadcaster Chris Doran will be on the call.
The Spanish radio broadcast can be found on La Grande 103.1 FM and the La Grande radio app, with Juan Valladares doing play-by-play.
Game 3 of the Crew-Cincinnati playoff matchup will be available on Apple TV via MLS Season Pass.
MLS Season Pass is available for the playoffs with a free Apple TV login. Here are the broadcast teams for tonight:
- English broadcast: Steve Cangialosi (play-by-play), Danny Higginbotham (analyst)
- Spanish broadcast (Apple TV): Bruno Vain (play-by-play), Andres Agulla (analyst)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. on Nov. 8 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
bmackay@dispatch.com
