columbus crew sc x fc cincinnati

The Columbus Crew ended a six-game losing run with a 3-2 win against FC Cincinnati in a chaotic Hell is Real derby at Lower.com Field on Friday night, thanks to two late goals from substitute Miguel Berry. When Isaac Atanga scored his first MLS goal in the 74th minute, FC Cincinnati appeared to be on the verge of a huge Heineken Rivalry Week away triumph. Berry scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in a 78-second stretch beginning in the 81st minute, giving the Crew three much-needed points.

Both teams had excellent chances throughout the night, beginning with Columbus nearly scoring the game's first goal twice in a sequence only nine minutes in that saw them strike the post on both attempts.

Luis Diaz had a wide-open chance in transition off a cross from Derek Etienne Jr., but the Costa Rican winger blasted it off the post. Lucas Zelarayan then gathered the rebound and unleashed a curling shot that appeared to be heading towards the goal, only to hit the crossbar.

Zelarayan, on the other hand, would not be denied, giving Columbus the lead in a dramatic manner just before halftime. It was a classic free-kick from the Argentine, who smashed a wonderfully placed ball into the top corner, leaving Cincinnati goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer with no chance. The Crew couldn't hold on to their advantage at halftime, allowing Ronald Matarrita to equalize with a highlight-reel strike of his own. After collecting a cleared corner kick, the left-back blazed a shot to the far post.

In the 74th minute, Cincinnati surprised the home crowd with a go-ahead goal from Atanga, who finished off a move with a precise shot to the far post, giving Jaap Stam's team an excellent chance to close out a huge win.

After Vermeer fumbled a save in front of the goal, Berry tied it in the 81st minute with a rebound strike. The game was subsequently won in the 83rd minute when a Cincinnati clearance bounced off the substitute's leg and into the net for the game-winning goal.

[Photography by ICONIC photographer Sean Faska]

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