Arfsten, Crew avoid elimination, beat Cincinnati 4-0 to force decisive Game 3
November 2, 2025
Max Arfsten had a goal and two assists and Dylan Chambost scored a first-half goal to help the Columbus Crew avoid elimination from the MLS Cup playoffs and beat FC Cincinnati 4-0 in Game 2 of the best-of-three first-round series. The series returns Cincinnati for Game 3 on Saturday. The winner advances to the one-game Eastern Conference semifinals against No.3 seed Miami or sixth-seeded Nashville. Jacen Russell-Rowe, who replaced Diego Rossi in the 61st minute, fed Andrés Herrera for a goal in the 65th and added a his first career playoff goal in the 69th. Arfsten opened the scoring in the 33rd minute. Yuya Kubo was shown his second yellow card in the 38th and No. 2 seed Cincinnati played a man down the rest of the way.