Crew accomplish a first in HIR derby: Three takeaways from the game

FC Cincinnati v Columbus Crew | Jeff Dean/GettyImages2-0 is the most dangerous lead in sports. This is a mantra my college coach used often, and it proves true time and time again. Which ever team scores the third goal would essentially dictate the game entirely. Saturday night was the latest example and it marked the first time Columbus came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat FC Cincy in regulation (last time in 2023 Eastern conference final went into extra time). It was Columbus getting the third goal, and from that point on it just had a feel the end result was fated. Fate being the operative word as two of the the Crew's goals could be considered by some as lucky, one being a shot from Max Arfsten taking a deflection on the way in altering the path past a helpless Roman Celentano, another being an own goal by Miles Robinson who was attempting to block a cross in from Ibrahim Aliyu. Another mantra shared by coach was "you make your own luck" and make no mistake about it, Columbus was making their own luck. After withstanding the initial barrage from FC Cincy who was clearly riding the high of playing at home, it was Columbus who dictated the entirety of the game after the opening 25 minutes.

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