Post-match: Hell Comes to Cowtown - Crew v Cincinnati - Match 14 - 5/17/25 7:00 PM

There was some discussion somewhere about the exact kickoff time.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2025/matches/clbvscin-05-17-2025/

7:15 it is...or at least shortly thereafter. The Cascadia game will be at 9:30.

 

our special hell is real kit clears theirs.

we have already won.

 

Updated weather shows almost no chance or rain by kickoff and temps have come down slightly. Will be mid to upper 60's for kickoff, but a windy day. Winds will peak earlier in the afternoon, but will still be higher than norm through the game.

 

It sounds just about perfect.

 

If you need pregame plans: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJkYmSEP7aj/?igsh=N3FnMjFnZ2UxdjZi

 

This is definitely @Hamburgler03 territory here.

 

you had me at Malort

 

Every time I choose win, we draw/lose. So this time, I am going lose.

 

Goals:
7: Rossi (1 CCC)
6: JRR (1 CCC)
3: Arfsten
2: Jackson, Zawadzki
1: Moreira, Chambost

(Farsi had one cs SD but silly Arfsten foul away from play took itcaway).

Assists:
5: Chambost
4: Farsi
3: Moreira, Arfsten
2: Rossi, Amundsen
1: JRR, Jackson, Herrera, DeJuan Jones

Time for Gazdag to get on the scoresheet. Maybe Aliyu & Lappalainen, too.

 

Back to the actual soccer, the Belgium league slander might have been premature. Denkey and Cuypers are doing quite well in actual numbers and in analytics. Denkey can drive and occupy space.

I hope cheberko starts, but hes played the most minutes. We need muscle and cohesion on the backline, and Malte hasnt been there lately.

Evander can do Evander things.

Orellano(?) Has moved back to the wingback spot. Max will have his hands full.

Buksa has been very good, so i hope Chambost can keep him occupied.

 

I hope we win.

 

Lappalainen would need to get on the field first. Hell, last game he didn't even make the bench.

 

I expected Cheberko to beat him out of a starting job but did want Zawadzki to get it but thought he might be stuck at Cm. We are a better team without Camacho starting , but if healthy it would help to have him on the bench and for rotating in congested fixtures.

 

So on a more positive note than match ignitor stuff, I forgot to order my 2025 Hell is Real shirt from Supporter Supply Co. So yesterday afternoon I ordered it because I wanted it either way. It came today. I had zero expectation that I would have it for tomorrow’s match. Sure enough they packed my order yesterday. Got it to USPS and I got it today. Impressive.

 

Good news is we will be dry tomorrow for the match. Bad news is severe storms overnight tonight and we are under a tornado watch until 3am. Stay safe everyone.

 

Gazdag will score!

 

Camacho & Herrera the only names on the injury report. Cincy is clean.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/league-reports/player-availability-report/

Your guess is as good as mine as to who Nancy starts up top, JRR or Jackson. And I guess there is the Cheberko v Amundsen question at LCB. The rest of the XI writes itself.

I'd go with JRR and Cheba. A tad more speed in the back and more size up top. But WTF do I know.

I know we are getting close to the end of Herrera's loan. I wonder if we have made a decision yet? If it is to let him go, then perhaps he does not want to risk aggravating a small knock prior?

 

Best guess: Schulte; Moreira, Zawadzki, Cheberko; Farsi, Chambost, Nagbe, Arfsten; Gazdag, JRR, Rossi.

Bench: Hagan; Amundsen, Ruvalcaba; Lappalainen, Brown; Sejdic, D. Jones; Habroune, Jackson.

A win and we are, at worst, top of the east, tied with Philly. Possibly 1 pt behind Vancouver.

Van at Austin, Philly at ATL.

 

All time in MLS play 7-5-3 VRS FCC who got their first win in Columbus last season , we can’t let that happen again. I fear a draw and have some concerns with our recent form VRs theirs. We have the better “team” they have the better Striker.

 

Gazdag hattrick incoming

Passion and pride are on the line ❤️‍🔥
Are you prepared for the Ohio Derby? pic.twitter.com/JoJXqJePae

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) May 17, 2025