Ohio is known as a football state, but it's also making noise in a different kind of football.
The state is home to two of America's best soccer teams, the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati, who will battle for Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference title on Saturday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.
The Columbus-Cincinnati rivalry — known as the "Hell is Real'" derby because of an infamous billboard fans pass on Interstate 71 between the cities — will determine which team plays for the MLS Cup against the winner of the LAFC-Houston Dynamo match in the Western Conference final.
For the first time, the Hell is Real derby is coming to the MLS playoffs as FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew will meet on Saturday for the right to host MLS Cup.
— NBC4 Columbus (@nbc4i) November 26, 2023
More details: https://t.co/XUJBo3zdc8 pic.twitter.com/ns7otpElyp
Professional soccer in Ohio hasn't always been this healthy. Ten years ago, the Columbus Crew were considering a move to Texas. Two years ago, FC Cincinnati was the worst team in MLS by far. The growth of both teams is remarkable.
For Columbus, true change was catalyzed by the desire of the city's fans for attacking soccer. That interest attracted coach Wilfried Nancy, who saw potential in Columbus and believed he could take the team to the top of MLS. Nancy's unique playing style, focused on a breathtaking high press, pushed the team past even the league's toughest defenses.
"We were talking about trying to create a story, trying to create memory,' Nancy said of his players after their 2-0 semifinal victory over Orlando SC. "These players, I challenged them to add their own chapter to the club history."
Taking the lead on writing that chapter was Cucho Hernandez, the Crew's clutch Colombian striker. His goal from midfield sealed the semifinal for Columbus.
CUCHO FROM MIDFIELD
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 26, 2023
Simply incredible. 2-0 to @ColumbusCrew.#Crew96 // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/SQKOcWWmpv
As for Cincinnati, its coach, Pat Noonan, admitted that the team's 1-0 semifinal win over the Philadelphia Union "wasn't always the prettiest." The Cincinnati of old, however, would have rolled over in a tough game. This new outfit held on until the last moment, scoring a controversial winning goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
For a well-drilled team like Cincinnati, breakthroughs come from moments of individual brilliance. Strikers Brandon Vazquez and Luciano Acosta have provided those moments all season, but in the playoffs, all eyes have been on young defender Yerson Mosquera. He scored the crucial goal for Cincinnati in the semifinals and is the player to watch in the Eastern Conference final.
MOSQUERA'S MOMENT
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 26, 2023
Yerson Mosquera puts Cincinnati in front at the death!#AllForCincy // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/JrG7L7pB8m
The MLS Eastern Conference final is Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.
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