By Ben Steiner
Hell is Real, but the Columbus Crew are very much alive in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs race after a 2-0 win at FC Cincinnati on Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire.
An opening goal from Gonzalo Tapia and an insurance marker from homegrown standout Taha Habroune sent the Crew to a season sweep of their Ohio rivals, silencing TQL Stadium after Cincinnati supporters unveiled a massive pre-match tifo ahead of kickoff.
Columbus are now just one point below Cincinnati for the Eastern Conference's ninth and final playoff spot, with four games remaining.
“This can be used as momentum, but I think it can also (show) that we can win in any way,” said Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
“The atmosphere from both fans, and for our fans to be heard in a stadium like this is awesome... It's pretty cool to play in something like this, and it's even better to walk away with three points.”
Roller coaster season
Flash back to last December and Wilfried Nancy coached the Crew, star striker Wessam Abou Ali was set for his first full MLS season, and Diego Rossi and USMNT defender Max Arfsten were among their key players.
Changed ensued, as interim head coach Laurent Courtois replaced Henrik Rydström after just 16 games, Abou Ali suffered a season-ending ACL injury in April, and Rossi (LIGA MX's Monterrey) and Arfsten (EFL Championship's Middlesbrough) were both transferred abroad.
Perhaps no team was busier than Columbus in the summer transfer window, too, with two new Designated Players – Brais Méndez and Santiago Rodríguez – highlighting nearly a dozen midseason newcomers.
Calling 2026 a roller coaster season would be an understatement.
Yet Columbus are trending towards the playoffs. And with four wins in their last five contests, there’s every reason to think they could do some damage when the time comes.
“There's been a lot of changes, especially in the summer with multiple guys out and multiple guys in, so it was very difficult, kind of adapting, and for the new guys coming in to kind of feel at home,” said Harbroune.
“I feel like now we're at that point where everyone's comfortable, and we kind of all know each other, and it's been showing on the field.”
US Open Cup looms
Finding their way back into postseason contention is a major step, but Columbus also have one eye on Wednesday night’s US Open Cup final at home against St. Louis CITY SC (8 pm ET | Paramount+, CBS Sports Network).
The derby win comes at the perfect time ahead of the final matchup, where Columbus will aim to win a fifth trophy in the last six years and qualify for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
“We are going to recover and then try to go for the title, of course,” Courtois said. “And the games after that are gonna be also kind of finals for us, and that’s the mindset from now.”
WATCH: Columbus Crew cruise past FC Cincinnati in Hell is Real