CINCINNATI —

FC Cincinnati defeated the Columbus Crew, 1-0 , Monday night at TQL Stadium to open their run to the MLS Cup.

The job isn't done however, with the Orange and Blue needing to win one more match to move onto the conference semifinals. Advertisement

2025 marks the third year of Major League Soccer's current playoff format, in which the first round features a best-of-3 series before it moves to a single-elimination bracket for the conference semifinals, conference finals and MLS Cup final.

Cincinnati has made the playoffs in all three years under the format and have yet to lose a Game 1.

In 2023, they blanked the New York Red Bulls, 3-0, at TQL Stadium, behind a bookend brace from Alvaro Barreal.

Last season, it was Yamil Asad's boot in the 51st minute that guided The FC

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