The first round of the MLS Audi Playoffs began Friday night. And on Monday evening in Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati takes on their bitter rival, the Columbus Crew, in the first Hell Is Real playoff edition.

 

Let’s look at a brief history of these two clubs in MLS.

 

FCC

FC Cincinnati had its beginnings in 2015 where they were given status as a United Soccer League (USL) club and competed there until 2018, winning the championship in their last season in USL.

 

2019 saw the club’s foray into MLS and the beginning of a slow climb to the upper echelon of MLS teams. From their first playoff experience in 2022 and their Supporter’s Shield trophy in 2023, FCC find themselves poised for another chance for the MLS Cup.

 

Skippered by Pat Noonan and managed by Chris Albright, FCC hopes to build on their 2025 season which saw new faces enter the club and begin to gel into a formidable football powerhouse.

 

Trivia: Where did FCC play their home games before TQL Stadium?

 

Crew

When MLS decided to pick cities for their venture into USA soccer, Columbus was one of the inaugural clubs created to make soccer more than just the fifth professional league. Columbus has seen their share of ups and downs since 1995.

 

Three MLS Championships and a threat to move to Texas make the Crew one of the most interesting clubs to follow. Passionate fans (#SaveTheCrew), numerous coaches with varied experience and ability, and teams that have played with both explosiveness and boredom have highlighted the thirty years of this club.

 

Head Coach Wilfried Nancy and general manager Issa Tall made this year’s playoffs as the 7th seed.  With the year of injuries this club has endured, why not a run for glory? That they are even in the playoffs is remarkable!

 

Trivia: What was supposedly picked as the nickname for the Crew when they were first organized?

 

Hell is Real

Travel down I-71 from Columbus to Cincinnati and you cannot miss the HELL IS REAL sign, where the bitter rivalry got its moniker. These two fan bases HATE each other. Ohio State versus University of Cincinnati? Nah! Crew vs FCC? Fighting in the streets!!

 

Here’s the scoop with some highlights:

 

1. Record. Crew eight wins. FCC four. There have been six draws.
2. First win? FCC in the US Open Cup 2017 on a late second half Djiby Fall header!
3. Coaches records against each other (only Crew v. FCC):
   1. Nancy. 3-1-2 (Win-Draw-Loss)
   2. Noonan. 2-2-4
4. Crew? Three MLS championships. FCC? One USL Regular season title.
5. Kei Kamara. Spent a total of four years with the Crew (two separate appearances) and is now with FCC!
6. Captains.
   1. Crew? Darlington Nagbe in his last year in professional soccer!
   2. FC Cincy? Matt Miazga, who might be out for the game with his injury.
7. Best Players?
   1. FC Cincy? Evander, who will probably finish 2nd in the voting for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award.
   2. Crew? Hard to choose. Diego Rossi leads the squad in goals scored but his injury status could impact Monday’s game. I’ll go with Nagbe.
8. Fans?
   1. FC Cincy? The Bailey!
   2. Crew? Nordecke!

 

Game Specifics

How to watch & stream

• MLS Season Pass, Apple TV
• FS1, FOX Deportes

When

• Monday, Oct. 27 | 6:45 pm ET/3:45 pm PT

Where

• TQL Stadium | Cincinnati, Ohio

(from mls.com)

Trivia answers:

FCC: Played their home matches at Nippert Stadium on the campus of University of Cincinnati.

Crew: Their nickname could have been the Eclipses. Look that one up.

All pictures are from the clubs home pages, except Hell is Real which is from our archives.