Jon Sepchinski

Kévin Denkey set the tone before Cincinnati's rotated lineup finished the job, giving the Orange and Blue a confidence-building result ahead of MLS play.

After conceding first and briefly losing control early in the second half, FC Cincinnati responded with an avalanche. Goals poured in from everywhere. The crowd of 25,513 turned into a wall of noise.

FC Cincinnati stormed back from a second-half deficit behind Brenner’s electric brace, taking down the Columbus Crew 2–1 in a dramatic Hell Is Real playoff decider at a sold-out TQL Stadium. With the comeback win, the Orange and Blue advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals and send their rivals home empty-handed.

FC Cincinnati took control of the Hell Is Real playoff showdown with a gritty 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew, powered by Kévin Denkey’s late-game dagger and another Roman Celentano clean sheet. The Orange & Blue now head to Columbus one victory away from advancing — and sending the defending champs packing.

FC Cincinnati looked set to secure a crucial win over Orlando City SC, taking a 1-0 lead in the 73rd minute, only to have Alex Freeman’s stoppage-time header snatch a 1-1 draw and leave TQL Stadium stunned. The result keeps FCC in the playoff hunt but underscores lingering defensive lapses they’ll need to fix before MLS Cup.

FC Cincinnati’s Supporters’ Shield push hit a snag as Alonso Martínez’s 55th-minute strike handed NYCFC a 1–0 win at TQL Stadium, exposing the Orange and Blue’s lack of attacking spark. With six games left, reinforcements from the transfer window can’t come fast enough as Cincinnati slipped to third in the Shield race.

Coco Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2025 Cincinnati Open with a dominant 6-2, 6-4 win over Lucia Bronzetti, showing no signs of rust after a four-day layoff. The victory marks her fifth quarterfinal appearance this year and builds momentum ahead of the US Open.

Columbus Crew staged a stunning comeback from an early two-goal deficit to defeat FC Cincinnati 4-2 in a dramatic ‘Hell is Real’ derby, ending Cincinnati’s four-game win streak and shaking up the Eastern Conference standings. The Crew’s resilience and tactical adjustments turned a storm-delayed match into a statement victory on the road.

The U.S. Women’s National Team secured its 600th win with a commanding 4-0 shutout of Ireland, showcasing its promising depth as new and young players stepped up alongside veteran leadership. Head coach Emma Hayes’ bold rotation strategy highlighted a future-ready squad poised to maintain the program’s historic dominance.

Wednesday’s FIFA Club World Cup match between Red Bull Salzburg and Pachuca was delayed nearly 100 minutes due to a severe thunderstorm in Cincinnati, but Salzburg ultimately secured a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Oscar Gloukh and Karim Onisiwo. The weather delay highlighted both teams’ resilience and FIFA’s strict safety measures for extreme conditions.

FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew battled to a 1–1 draw in a high-stakes Hell Is Real Derby, with Kevin Denkey scoring early and Diego Rossi equalizing via penalty. Despite the shared points, both teams showcased their playoff credentials in front of a raucous sellout crowd, with Cincinnati’s new stars and Columbus’ dominance on the ball offering plenty of promise for the season ahead.

FC Cincinnati defeated Austin FC 2-1 in front of a packed TQL Stadium, led by standout performances from Evander and Yuya Kubo. The match marked a turning point in team cohesion and tactical clarity, as FCC looked the most connected and dangerous they have all season, reclaiming the Eastern Conference lead while building momentum for a busy week ahead.