CINCINNATI — As fans packed Washington Park before Saturday night's game against the Columbus Crew, the anticipation was palpable.

"The energy we have here, it's awesome," FC Cincinnati fan Leila Firdaus said.

Not only was it win-or-go-home time, but it was also a matchup against bitter rivals.

Fans like Dylan Morton said a matchup against Columbus just means a little more.

"We saw the Columbus Crew coming through the street, chanting and parading, we're like 'we can't have that'," Morton said.

For some, these nerve-wracking games are exactly why they became fans.

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"I've been a fan since literally 9 years old, so it means a lot to me," Firdaus said.

We watched among many anxiou

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