Columbus overcomes early deficit, rain delay to top FC Cincinnati

In a game that saw two substantial momentum swings, the Columbus Crew scored three unanswered goals in an 18-minute span to flip an early 2-0 deficit into a 4-2 road win over FC Cincinnati on Saturday night at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

Columbus (11-3-8, 41 points) scored two goals late in the first half, including one in the third minute of stoppage time, to tie the match 2-2 at halftime.

The Crew then took a 3-2 lead on an FC Cincinnati own goal in the 59th minute before adding a goal in stoppage time to ice the match.

After the match was delayed for 56 minutes due to severe weather, FC Cincinnati (13-6-3, 42 points) came roaring out of the gate to take command of the match. Midfielders Pavel Bucha and Evander both scored in the first five minutes to give Cincinnati an early 2-0 lead.

Evander's goal was his 13th of the season, and it tied an FC Cincinnati club record of four consecutive games with a goal. It was a right-footed shot from the right half-space outside of the box that had an expected goal percentage of just four percent.

Despite having little control of the match through the first 41 minutes, Columbus scored the next four goals to earn the three points.

The Crew's All-Star forward, Diego Rossi, scored his 11th goal of the season with a right-footed shot from the center of the box to start Columbus' comeback.

Things went from bad to worse for FC Cincinnati in the 59th minute of the second half when All-Star defender Miles Robinson scored an own goal to give Columbus a 3-2 lead.

FC Cincinnati had their chances to tie the match in the final 30 minutes, but Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte kept them off the scoreboard in the second half, making two saves.

Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano did not have a save and allowed all four Columbus goals.

--Field Level Media