The Columbus Crew SC have lost only one of the 10 MLS editions of the Hell is Real Derby (W5 D4), a 2-1 FC Cincinnati win in October 2020. FC Cincinnati hasn’t lost any of its last four home matches against the Columbus Crew SC (W1 D3) after Columbus won its first away match in the series in 2019.
FC Cincinnati is the sixth team in MLS history, and the second in the last 20 years (Philadelphia Union in 2020), to win its first seven home matches of a season. Only two teams in the post-shootout era (since 2000) have won their first eight home matches of a season (Philadelphia Union – 9 in 2020, and the San Jose Earthquakes – 10 in 2002).
Columbus Crew SC has won only one of its last 12 MLS away matches (D6 L5) dating back to last July. The Columbus Crew SC’s last away match, a 1-0 at Charlotte FC, ended a run of 13 straight road games with at least one goal.
Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez both scored in FC Cincinnati’s 3-0 win over the CF Montreal Impact on Wednesday. It marked the 16th time since the start of last season that both Acosta and Vazquez contributed to at least one goal in the same match, the most of any teammates in MLS in that time.
Lucas Zelarayan scored his fifth goal of the season in the Columbus Crew SC’s win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday. Zelarayan has contributed to at least one goal in five of his six MLS appearances since the beginning of April (3 goals, 3 assists).
