Cincinnati have eaten 'humble pie' ahead of Game 3 with Columbus

Miles Robinson insisted that his FC Cincinnati team-mates would not feel sorry for themselves as they head into their winner-takes-all Game Three clash with Columbus Crew. 

Having taken a 1-0 lead in their three-match series, Cincinnati were pegged back in stunning fashion by Wilfried Nancy's team, who comfortably won Game Two 4-0 last week. 

Max Arfsten had already put Columbus a goal to the good before Yuya Kubo saw red in the 38th minute, with Cincinnati unable to recover from there at Lower.com Field.

But despite their humbling defeat, Robinson revealed that his players have not only forgotten about the result, but are looking to make amends in front of their home supporters. 

"It's humble pie, but we're willing to eat it," Robinson said. "I think everyone knows there's still everything to play for, so we're not that down to be fair.

"But I think we can't just pretend like we didn't just lose 4-0. We got to recognise that and understand how we can grow from that and learn from it and keep moving forward."

Cincinnati do, however, find themselves in a similar position as they did in 2024, when they were knocked out by New York City FC. 

Having won Game One, they went on to lose the next two matches in the series, with Game Three decided on penalties, and Pat Noonan is hoping history does not repeat itself. 

"A lot of guys that were on the field weren't a part of it last year. So for guys that were a part of it, understand the importance of how you rebound from a tough night," he said.

"Help to educate some of our newer faces. But it's a new year, we should have every reason to be confident, to go in front of our home fans and go perform again.

"You can't go after it scared, or you don't have a chance. So, take the lessons from the last two games and not go back to years past."

Ahead of Game Two, Columbus boss Nancy described the clash as "do or die" for his team, having also exited at this stage last season to the New York Red Bulls. 

And they responded in style last time out, as Arfsten, Dylan Chambost, Andres Herrera and Jacen Russell-Rowe got themselves on the scoresheet in that triumph. 

Indeed, the Crew registered an expected goals (xG) total of 3.06 from their 20 shots to Cincinatti's 0.01 from their only shot, which was wide of Patrick Schulte's net. 

However, despite the momentum being with his team, Nancy was quick to express his concern about Cincinnati's mentality coming into the match.. 

"Now, obviously, the next game is going to be really interesting because they are upset, and we have the momentum," Nancy said.

"I think that during this game, we had at certain moments we had the flow. The flow is a mix between the skills that we have and also the good energy that we have.

"That's why I think they had a really good game, and they didn't think about the do-or-die. They just wanted to get better."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Cincinnati – Roman Celentano

Roman Celentano made five saves in the second game, his fifth career postseason match with five or more saves and first since Cincinnati's 2023 playoff meeting with the Crew.

His five playoff games with at least five saves since the beginning of 2022 are the most by any MLS goalkeeper, and he will be hoping to keep Columbus at bay here.

Columbus Crew – Max Arfsten

Arfsten provided a goal and two assists in Game 2 as he is one of three MLS players to have three or more goal contributions in a playoff game this season, along with Lionel Messi and Denis Bouanga.

He was also the first Crew player to do so in a postseason match since Lucas Zelarayan in the 2020 MLS Cup Final.

MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN

The Crew scored four goals in a match against Cincinnati for the second time in all competitions this season in Game Two (also 4-2 road win in July). It equalled the largest margin of victory for either team in the all-time series, matching Columbus' 4-0 win in the MLS is Back Group Stage in 2020.

But Columbus were also solid at the back. In Game Two, they became the second team, after the Vancouver Whitecaps in the 2025 MLS Cup playoffs to concede zero shots on target in a match.

It was the Crew's third time this season facing zero shots on goal in MLS (regular season and playoffs) with the Whitecaps being the only other team to have more than one such game (four).

Indeed, Cincinnati's four goals conceded in Game Two were its most ever in a playoff match. The club has allowed 13 goals in 11 MLS Cup playoff games – 10 on the road and just three at home – securing five clean sheets in the six all-time home playoff matches as an MLS team.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

FC Cincinnati – 42.9%

Draw – 26.7%

Columbus Crew – 30.4%