COLUMBUS – Perhaps FC Cincinnati had faint hope of a postseason berth entering its match against the Columbus Crew until the Crew delivered what was almost surely a death knell to those hopes.
Playing in the first-ever "Hell is Real" derby match at the Columbus Crew's Lower.com Field, which opened this summer, FC Cincinnati coughed up a 2-1 lead only to fall, 3-2.
Going into halftime, Ronald Matarrita equalized for FCC after a Lucas Zelarayan free-kick installed a lead for the hosts, who entered the match having lost six consecutive matches.
Second-half substitute Isaac Atanga put FC Cincinnati in line for its first win since June 26 with his 75th-minute counterattacking goal, but back-to-back goals by Columbus' Miguel Berry in the 81st and 83rd minutes condemned FCC to its latest capitulation.
