By Joseph S. Conteh
Kei Kamara’s FC Cincinnati secured a 1-0 triumph over their in-state rivals, Columbus Crew, in the opening game of their best-of-three Hell is Real playoff series.
The match remained scoreless for over 75 minutes before striker Kévin Denkey broke the deadlock, netting the winning goal in the 78th minute to hand Cincinnati a crucial victory.
Kei Kamara, the veteran forward, entered the game as a substitute and played a part in his team’s efforts to protect their slender lead and claim all three points.
The hard-fought victory puts Cincinnati in a strong position heading into the second leg of the series, as they look to advance to the next round of the playoffs.
The rivalry between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew, known as the “Hell is Real” derby, has always been intense, and this playoff showdown is expected to be no different.
With the series now tilting in Cincinnati’s favor, the stage is set for an intriguing and potentially decisive second leg in the coming days.
