Columbus Crew 2 has been among the best teams in all of MLS NEXT Pro this season. Crew 2 sits at the top of the Eastern Conference where the team has been for a majority of the year after losing their first game of the season to Inter Miami II.
The Black & Gold are coming off a 4-0 victory against in-state rival FC Cincinnati 2 in the first-ever Hell is Real Derby in MLS NEXT Pro. This win extended Crew 2’s unbeaten run to six matches. Technically, the two results prior to the derby win for Columbus ended in draws, but MLS NEXT Pro goes straight to shootouts, both of which the Black & Gold but still received a point in the standings.