Ohio soccer fans turn their eyes to Columbus as the capital city hosts the latest edition of a burgeoning MLS rivalry.
It's a rematch of the 2023 Eastern Conference finals as the Columbus Crew welcome FC Cincinnati to town for a match on Saturday, May 11 at Lower.com Field. MLS has designated this as a must-see match, putting the No. 1 broadcast crew of Jake Zivin (Play-by-Play) and Taylor Twellman (analysis) on the call of the game.
In this first "Hell is Real" derby of the season, named for one of the many billboards seen alongside Insterstate-71 between Columbus and Cincinnati, FC Cincinnati comes into the match with the upper hand. The Blue and Orange side sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 11 games. Columbus is solidly in the middle of the playoff pack at this point in the season with 15 points. However, like last season, even though Cincinnati came into the playoff encounter with a better regular season, all form goes out the table when the all-Ohio derby begins.
While there have been some ups and downs with his manager Wilfried Nancy, Cucho Hernandez has continued to put in huge performances when he's on the field. He's scored four goals in eight MLS matches this season as well as a huge goal to give the Crew a win over Monterrey at home in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
On the other side, Cincinnati has once again been led by last year's MVP Luciano Acosta, who already has five goals and five assists at this point in the season.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch it across the world, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
What time does Columbus Crew vs. Cincinnati kick off?
This MLS clash takes place at the Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. The match is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, May 11 at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Here's how that time translates across all of the time zones in the United States:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Sat, May 11 | 7:45 p.m. |
| Central Time | Sat, May 11 | 6:45 p.m. |
| Mountain Time | Sat, May 11 | 5:45 p.m. |
| Pacific Time | Sat, May 11 | 4:45 p.m. |
| Alaska ST | Sat, May 11 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Hawaii ST | Sat, May 11 | 2:45 p.m. |
Where to watch Columbus Crew vs. Cincinnati, live stream, TV channel
- Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
- Time: 7:45 p.m. ET / 4:45 p.m. PT
- TV channel: Fox Sports 1, Fox Deportes (Spanish)
- Streaming: Apple TV, Fubo, Fox Sports app/website
Fans around the world can watch the Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati and every league match this season via MLS Season Pass from Apple TV. Additionally, this match will be available to watch for free on Apple TV, as well as on TV in the United States on Fox Sports 1.
Fans can also stream the match on Fubo, which is currently offering a FREE trial to new users. Spanish viewers can watch the game on Fox Deportes.
If Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)
Columbus Crew vs. Cincinnati lineups, team news
The Crew lost Mohamad Farsi to an injury in their last MLS match, but other than him and Evan Bush, a full squad is available to coach Wilfried Nancy. In most situations, Nancy may have rotated his squad, but he will likely put out a nearly full-strength team with Cincinnati coming to town.
Columbus Crew predicted XI (3-4-3, right to left): Schulte (GK) — Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen — Sands, Morris, Nagbe, Yeboah — Rossi, Hernandez, Matan.
Columbus Crew subs (9): TBC
FC Cincinnati fans learned details this week about how star striker Aaron Boupendza suffered a broken jaw, which will leave him sidelined for at least six weeks. Left-back Brett Halsey will also miss the match due to his red card in the 1-0 win over Orlando City.
FC Cincinnati predicted XI (3-4-3 right to left): Celentano (GK) — Robinson, Miazga, Hagglund — Yedlin, Nwobodo, Bucha, Orellano — Baird, Acosta, Kubo.
FC Cincinnati subs (9): TBC
Columbus Crew vs. Cincinnati prediction
The Columbus Crew are on a roll in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, qualifying for the final in convincing fashion with two terrific performances in the last two rounds on the road in Mexico. But they've taken their eye off the ball in MLS, having drawn five straight matches. The ageless wonder Darlington Nagbe has been brilliant with Aiden Morris in central midfield, but how will they handle FC Cincinnati star Luciano Acosta?
Cincinnati comes into the match winners of three-straight games including two of those on the road. Could they come into Columbus and pull off the upset? It's certainly possible.
Prediction: Columbus Crew 1-2 FC Cincinnati
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