These were the moments FC Cincinnati dreamed of when the club splashed major cash in 2021 to bring Brenner Souza da Silva to North America: Brenner delivering on the biggest stages against the best opponents, willing FCC toward trophies.
Make no mistake that Brenner had enjoyed many fine nights during his two stints with the club, but it wasn’t until Nov. 8, in the biggest match of his long and winding FCC career, that it felt like the club and the player both realized a dream that could only exist when both sides were in harmony with each other.
Brenner scored twice in a 2-1 FC Cincinnati win against the Columbus Crew, claiming the decisive third game of FCC’s MLS Cup Eastern Conference first-round series at TQL Stadium. A sellout crowd of 25,513 attended as Cincinnati progressed in the playoffs for the first time since 2023.
FC Cincinnati trailed Columbus, 1-0, on a 63rd-minute goal by Jacen Russell-Rowe and, with less than 30 minutes to play, the clock instantly became a factor. But Brenner scored on a loose ball off a corner kick from close range four minutes later, and confidence was restored for the hosts.
Brenner’s second, and ultimately series-deciding, score arrived dramatically in the 85th minute when he finessed a perfectly-aimed ball past Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
In between Brenner’s first and second goals, Cincinnati head coach Pat Noonan informed Brenner during a touchline conversation that he would be exiting the game shortly. Brenner didn’t accept that assignment. He told his manager, “I can score another goal,” Noonan recalled afterward.
“He came through,” Noonan said.
In winning, Cincinnati closed out its arch-rival to advance to the single-game elimination Eastern Conference semifinal round. Following the next FIFA window for international games Nov. 10-18, Cincinnati will host Inter Miami on either Nov. 22 or Nov. 23.
Miami won the third game of its first-round series to eliminate Nashville SC 4-0.
Cincinnati won Game 1 to open the Crew series on Oct. 27 before losing handily in Columbus Nov. 2, but FCC claimed final bragging rights.
“You can’t feel sorry for yourself when things don’t go your way, from our last performance to how we conceded the (63rd-minute) goal,” Noonan said. “We put our heads down and played, and got the momentum back quickly, which is important. I think that was a key moment but (we’ve) done it all year. I’m almost tired of talking about it like it’s a surprise.
“Sure, we had the poor night (Nov. 2), and like everybody, we don’t get things right but we typically have a way about them that says ‘we’ll go figure it out in a better way next time.’ Was it perfect tonight? No, but they get to experience a good ending to the night because of the work they’re putting in and the mentality of the group.”
The victory over Columbus etched the newest chapter in the history of the “Hell is Real” derby shared by the two teams. After the Crew cut down FC Cincinnati in the 2023 Eastern Conference final, the Nov. 8 result felt like some kind of redemption.
Brenner wasn’t present for the 2023 playoff run. He had earlier that season been sent out on a seven-figure transfer deal to a top-flight Italian club. It was well-chronicled that Brenner wanted to play in Europe, and his relationship with FC Cincinnati deteriorated when the move didn’t happen early in 2023.
To the surprise of many, FC Cincinnati brought Brenner back this summer. He had changed and matured, they said, and it proved true.
Partly because of that, he delivered on Nov. 8 the kind of spectacle the club initially envisioned for him during its monied 2021 acquisition of him from Sao Paolo FC.
“It’s a little wild,” Noonan said. “He’s matured and when he left, that was something that needed to improve in his game, in his life. I think that experience for him was important for us to see what we’re seeing right now, and it’s his job to not get complacent, to not get comfortable and to continue to push himself, and it’s our job to continue to demand this level because he’s been pretty consistent since he’s returned.
“He’s happier. He’s smiling a lot, and like I said, he wants to help, and he’s doing it in the right way.”
Brenner had four goals in six league matches since returning to Cincinnati from Italian club Udinese during the summer transfer window.
Brenner’s demand to stay in the match was emblematic of the maturation process he underwent in Europe, which can be glamorous but also cruel. Injury struggles found him at Udinese, and he labored for consistent minutes when healthy. He ultimately scored twice in just 19 appearances across all competitions.
“That’s what I came here for. I came here to make goals,” Brenner said via a team interpreter. “That’s what I did. I know they scored the first but in my head, I knew I was going to score some goals.”
Brenner’s two goals Nov. 8 were not only his first goals in the MLS Cup playoffs (five appearances) but his first in “Hell is Real,” which he would have been plenty familiar with from his first stay in Cincinnati.
For FC Cincinnati players like Nick Hagglund who have been around to see both Brenner tenures, the new Brenner has been a refreshing and team-enhancing change.
“I think he gained an appreciation for what this club offers when he went away,” Hagglund said. “And I think you see that in the way he plays, the way he trains, the way he shows up every day. I think there’s an appreciation to being a part of this club and his experience over in Italy, he just realized − I think he always had aspirations to go overseas.
“He did that, saw what it was like and realized playing for FC Cincinnati is an awesome thing and a great experience… It’s that gratitude and just getting to be himself.”
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Live updates from throughout the game:
This chapter of “Hell is Real” belongs to FC Cincinnati. They win, 2-1, on the night and take the series, two games to one.
Brenner Souza da Silva slid home the would-be game winner. What a moment for the FC Cincinnati goal-scorer, now in his second stay with the club.
Lassi Lappalainen on, Andres Herrera off.
Interestingly, Kevin Denkey’s night is over with penalty kicks looming. He comes off in favor of Ayoub Jabbari.
FC Cincinnati supporters barely had time to allow themselves to be gripped by the thought of playoff elimination when Brenner Souza da Silva banged home his first career playoff game for the club. It’s 1-1 at TQL Stadium.
Seconds after Luca Orellano came on, the Crew attacked his wing. The ball landed with Andres Herrera, who centered for Jacen Russell-Rowe, and he made no mistake with his finish.
Lukas Engel pulled up injured and FCC deemed that a good moment for its first change of the game. Luca Orellano entered the field to big applause.
Hugo Picard’s header from the center of the box was saved acrobatically by FCC goalkeeper Roman Celentano. The MLS website stated Picard’s shot had an xG of with an xG of 56%.
Both teams created some solid chances but Columbus probably had the better of the play in the first half. The visitors certainly held the ball more (61% versus 39%), and had more corners (5-2).
Columbus’ Malte Amundsen (fourth minute) and Taha Habroune (35th minute; later substituted off), along with Cincinnati’s Nick Hagglund (10th minute), all received yellow cards in the first half.
No substitutions were made for the start of the second half, although the Crew subbed Habroune out of the contest in favor of Jacen Russell-Rowe in the 39th minute.
A late first-half flourish by Columbus saw a ball cleared off the the line by FC Cincinnati forward Kevin Denkey. Another shot was blocked. That was the best spell of the game for the visitors.
For as much history as FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew have crafted together and against one another, three head-to-head games in a row is unprecedented in “Hell is Real.” Naturally, a long feeling-out process unfurled in the opening 20 minutes. That saw both teams sit back and defend at times, although Columbus has a considerable edge in possession. The Crew didn’t have much to show for that, though, and Cincinnati was out-shooting the visitors, 3-1, as of the 22nd minute.
Andrew Abbott, ace of the 2025 Cincinnati Reds team that reached the MLB postseason with a wild card berth, pulled the ritual sword in from of The Bailey supporters’ section. That got the crowd plenty fired up, as appearances by the Reds at this venue have historically.
Starting lineups for FC Cincinnati, Columbus Crew
- FC Cincinnati starting XI: Roman Celentano (GK), Nick Hagglund, Miles Robinson (captain), Teenage Hadebe, Evander, Samuel Gidi, Pavel Bucha, Lukas Engel, Ender Echenique, Brenner, Kevin Denkey.
- Cincinnati bench: Alvas Powell, Gilberto Flores, Obinna Nwobodo, Evan Louro (GK), Gerardo Valenzuela, Luca Orellano, Ayoub Jabbari, Brian Anunga, Kei Kamara.
- SUSPENDED for Cincinnati: Yuya Kubo (red card in Game 2).
- Columbus Crew starting XI: Patrick Schulte (GK), Andres Herrera, Malte Amundsen, Max Arfsten, Steven Moreira, Darlington Nagbe (captain), Dylan Chambost, Taha Habroune, Sean Zawadzki, Diego Rossi, Hugo Picard.
- Columbus bench: Camacho, Gazdag, Allyu, Sejdic, Russell-Rowe, Cheberko, Bush, Lappalainen, Ruvalcaba.
