FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew SC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 8
FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew SC
Nippert Stadium – Cincinnati
August 29 – 7:30 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: Star64, FOX Sports Ohio

FC Cincinnati will be seeking for revenge in the second Hell is Real showdown of the year, while Columbus Crew SC are looking to rebound from their first regular-season defeat when the sides square off at Nippert Stadium Saturday night.

Both teams suffered midweek defeats on the road with FC Cincinnati falling to Chicago Fire FC in their return to Soldier Field, while Crew SC dropped a 1-0 decision to NYCFC at Red Bull Arena.

Columbus won the only other Hell is Real regular season game played at Nippert Stadium, 3-1, last August with Gyasi Zardes striking for a brace. Crew SC thrashed FC Cincy 4-0 in Orlando last month with Zardes again scoring twice. It was Jaap Stam's first match in charge of FC Cincinnati.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati fell into a 2-0 hole inside of 10 minutes before ultimately falling to the Fire, 3-0, at Soldier Field. It was a departure from the much-improved defensive form the side had shown under Stam when they conceded just once in their previous four games and came into this match after a 0-0 draw against D.C. United.

"We’ve been doing very well in the past. Even though you’re losing three-nil when you come back in the second half on the pitch, the players still are trying to get close or to score that first goal and that’s a very positive thing as well," Stam said. "But this is football. It happens at times. That makes football at times nice as well, and I don’t mean losing, but it is unpredictable at times. So, we need to keep working hard. This was for us a good eye opener for us as well.”“

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Spencer Richey (GK) - concussion
- OUT: Jimmy McLaughlin (M) - ankle injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution:Frankie Amaya (M)
International duty: None

Columbus Crew SC

For the first time this season, Columbus suffered a regular season defeat, dropping a 1-0 result against NYCFC Monday night. Caleb Porter rotated his squad, resting five starters. Also the way the Crew lost was confounding, done in by a stunning defensive gaffe by Aboubacar Keita. It was only the second goal conceded this regular season.

"We have to learn from it, obviously," Porter said. "We have not much time to turn around and go again, but it’s still a process and we’ve been on a good run obviously; six games with no losses, this is our first loss. We’ll use it to get better and we have to respond now in this next game versus our rival in a big match."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Vito Wormgoor (D) - ankle injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Eloy Room (GK) - hamstring injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Lucas Zelarayan (M) - ankle injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Youness Mokhtar (M) - muscle strain
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None