Columbus Crew made their chances count in the Hell is Real derby, defeating FC Cincinnati 2-0 at TQL Stadium on Sunday, October 18. Gonzalo Tapia headed the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute before Taha Habroune doubled their advantage in the 54th, settling an MLS fixture whose statistics told a very different story from the result.
Cincinnati finished with 68.1 percent possession and a 23-3 advantage in attempts. Yet Columbus converted both of their shots on target, while the hosts could not turn any of their seven on-target efforts into a goal.
Tapia gives Columbus the edge
Tapia supplied the breakthrough with a header in the 22nd minute, putting Columbus in front and leaving Cincinnati chasing the derby on home soil.
The hosts also picked up two bookings before the interval, with Samuel Gidi cautioned in the 28th minute and Teenage Hadebe following in the 31st. Columbus midfielder André Gomes received a yellow card seven minutes into first-half stoppage time, with the Crew taking their 1-0 lead into the break.
Habroune doubles the advantage
Cincinnati’s task became considerably harder nine minutes after the restart. Habroune struck in the 54th minute to make it 2-0, giving Columbus a cushion that the home side could not erase.
The contrast in attacking output was striking. Cincinnati registered 23 attempts and seven shots on target without finding a breakthrough; Columbus needed just three attempts to produce two goals. The visitors had only 31.9 percent of possession, but their efficiency proved decisive.
Both teams earned two corners, while Columbus committed 16 fouls to Cincinnati’s 13. A stoppage-time booking for Crew substitute Dylan Chambost was the final disciplinary entry before the visitors completed their clean-sheet victory.
Derby decided by finishing
For Cincinnati, this was a frustrating reminder that territorial control and shooting volume do not guarantee a return. For Columbus, it was a valuable away victory built on taking the opportunities that mattered: Tapia’s 22nd-minute header and Habroune’s 54th-minute finish.
Both clubs return to MLS action on Saturday, October 24. Cincinnati face D.C. United at 4:30 p.m. PDT, while Columbus take on Toronto FC at 12:30 p.m. PDT.
