Hell is Real tie clinches playoff spots for both Crew and Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio (WCMH) -- Hell was real Saturday night in Cincinnati as the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati battled for second place in the Eastern Conference before a sold-out TQL Stadium.

But the rivalry game -- nicknamed the Hell is Real derby after Ohio's well-known billboard -- ended a 0-0 draw. In the battle for the buckeye state, both teams gave sweat and even blood after a collision between Rudy Camacho and Niko Gioacchini, where the latter spent the remainder of the match with a Band-Aid across his nose.

The tie did clinch a spot for both teams in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. With a point each, Cincinnati remains ahead of Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings by just two points, with the Crew playing one fewer game than its rival.

Tension was seen from both teams as the rivalry drew closer to conclusion, with four yellow cards given throughout the match: one each to Cincinnati's Obinna Nwobodo and Chidozi Awaziem, one to the Crew's Cucho Hernandez and one to Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy.

Saturday's battle for Ohio also featured a one-on-one showdown. Hernandez and Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta are both front runners for this year's MLS MVP. Acosta would make history if he cinches it as the first to player win back-to-back MVP titles in the MLS. Hernandez is no stranger to titles himself, winning the MVP award for both tournaments the Crew has won in the past nine months.

Hernandez had five scoring attempts to Acosta's one on Saturday, in part thanks to an unfortunate off-sides and in part due to tactical covering by Crew coaches. Nancy kept captain Darlington Nagbe velcroed to Acosta, forcing Cincinnati's star to play vertical.

FC Cincinnati returns Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. on the road against Minnesota. The Crew shares the quick turnaround, taking on Toronto at 7:30 Wednesday, also without the home field advantage.