The Game in Pictures: Columbus Crew SC vs. FC Cincinnati

It's been a match up supporters of both Columbus Crew SC and FC Cincinnati had circled on the calendar for months. Coined the "Hell is Real" derby, fans of both clubs genuinely don't like one another.

The rivalry started during the former USL-side's magical U.S. Open Cup. The two teams met in June 2017 with Cincinnati defeating Columbus by the score of 1-0. The win fired the opening salvo for FCC and served as the first building block in a promising rivalry.

With Cincinnati being promoted to Major League Soccer, the teams now meet on a regular basis. On Saturday fans got a look at the clubs in a final dress rehearsal before the season kicks off on March 2nd.

It was a scoring clinic from the Crew SC as Gyasi Zardes grabbed a brace and Pedro Santos added one more goal in the second half to give Crew SC a 3-0 win to claim a third straight Carolina Challenge Cup.

Check out some of my photos to relieve a beautiful night in South Carolina: