The rivalry is back in town, and Cincinnati is already buzzing with the tension of Ohio’s biggest soccer clash. This Saturday, FC Cincinnati hosts Columbus Crew at TQL Stadium in a matchup that could shake up the top of the Eastern Conference. The Orange and Blue sit at the top with 42 points, while the Crew trail close behind in fourth, with 38. If the standings didn’t make it intense enough, recent form, crowd energy, and team momentum have turned this meeting into something much bigger.
FCC's unbeaten streak against their in-state rivals, Evander’s dominant run, and the full-throttle energy building around the match are fueling a showdown that feels anything but routine. For Pat Noonan, Cincinnati’s head coach, it’s exactly this kind of atmosphere that elevates the game. He knows a win here could carry deeper weight for the rest of the season.
Home form, top form, and a team built to hold
Cincinnati’s rise to the top is no accident. A lot of it comes down to the immediate spark from Evander. The midfielder’s been in rare form, pulling the strings and hitting numbers that can’t be ignored, 12 goals and 8 assists so far. In just the last three games, he’s netted five and assisted twice. A goal this Saturday would match the club record for most consecutive games scored in an MLS regular season, four straight.
Right beside him, Kévin Denkey continues to prove his worth. The club’s record signing has 12 goals to his name and already put one past the Crew back in May. Add to that the home-field factor, Cincinnati has won six of nine games at TQL in 2025, and you’ve got a team that feeds off its crowd. With four straight unbeaten results in this rivalry, Cincy is looking to channel that pressure into power.
A dangerous Crew that knows how to adapt
Columbus isn’t arriving quietly. They’re also riding a four-game unbeaten streak, with ten points collected over that stretch. Their last match ended in a 1-1 draw away to Seattle Sounders, a game cut short after a serious injury to the opposing goalkeeper required on-field medical attention. But before that, Columbus was pushing hard, especially with a man advantage in the final minutes.
Head coach Wilfried Nancy has steered the Crew with precision, even with offseason exits and key absences like Cucho. Only three losses all season tell the story of a team that knows how to adjust, stay balanced, and keep pace with the best.
For this game, Columbus gets back Max Arfsten. The 24-year-old returns after making his mark with the US Men’s National Team in the Gold Cup. Another player to watch is Dániel Gazdag. Since arriving from Philadelphia Union, the Hungarian hasn’t quite clicked — just two assists in 13 appearances. Still, rivalries have a way of flipping switches. And for Gazdag, this might be the game that changes everything.