FC Cincinnati claimed a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew in the opener of their Eastern Conference first-round series on Monday. Kévin Denkey scored in the 78th minute to secure the win for the hosts. The second match will take place on Sunday in Columbus. If needed, a deciding game will be held on 8 November in Cincinnati. Cincinnati, the second seed, had been pressing for a breakthrough against the seventh-seeded Crew before Denkey found the net. Ender Echenique made a run down the left side and sent a ball to a marked Evander at the far post. Evander managed to place the ball in front of Denkey, who scored easily. Denkey finished the regular season with 15 goals. FC Cincinnati were comfortable holding the lead, reflecting their season trend, as 17 of their 21 MLS wins came by a single goal. Cincinnati dominated the first half and nearly scored just before halftime. Denkey’s shot from the top of the box was blocked, but he recovered and passed to Brenner. Brenner’s shot was tipped over the crossbar by Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte for a corner. Schulte had four saves in the match and is in contention to be the third goalkeeper for the US at the 2026 World Cup. Schulte was sharp early, making a double save in the 14th minute. He first denied Evander’s attempt from the right side of the box, then quickly stopped a straight-on shot by Samuel Gidi. Columbus had limited chances in the first half, with only one shot on target before the 30th minute. Max Arfsten broke past the defense but his attempt was easily saved by Cincinnati’s goalkeeper Roman Celentano. Celentano finished the match with three saves. Crew leading scorer Diego Rossi, who scored 16 goals this season, was questionable due to a hamstring injury. He started the match and played 75 minutes but could not make a decisive impact. FC Cincinnati’s next challenge will be on Sunday in Columbus. Both teams remain in contention, and the series could be decided in a final game if each team wins one match. The opener showcased Cincinnati’s attacking strength and defensive resilience, giving them an early advantage in the series.