Futbol Club Cincinnati had to wait for the very last regular-season match of the United Soccer League season to learn it's playoff opponent, but it was well worth the wait.

FC Cincinnati will open its USL Cup playoff campaign Saturday (4 p.m.) with a regional derby against Nashville SC.

The game is a rematch of Cincinnati's regular-season finale against Nashville on Saturday. The back-and-forth tussle saw Corben Bone score twice on his 100th appearance for FC Cincinnati and Nashville steal a draw with a 90th-minute equalizer.

FC Cincinnati and its fans viewed Nashville as one of the tougher first-round matches, but that's exactly what they got and it's a match that's unlikely to disappoint.

Cincinnati and Nashville couldn't be separated over the course of their three-match season series.

The teams tied three times, playing to a scoreless draw July 7, a 1-1 tie at Nippert Stadium on Aug 4, and Saturday night's thriller at Frist Tennessee Park in downtown Nashville.

More:Corben Bone leads FC Cincinnati to 3-3 tie at Nashville, USL-record unbeaten streak of 23 games

More:FC Cincinnati drops points in 1-1 draw with Nashville SC

More:FC Cincinnati, Nashville SC play to scoreless tie in first-ever meeting

They even played to a 2-2 draw in preseason at Gettler Stadium on the University of Cincinnati campus, so this series has truly never seen either side stick their nose in front.

Had Nashville defeated Cincinnati on Saturday, they'd have avoided the first-round date with the regular season champions. But Nashville coughed up a 1-0 lead in the second half and fell behind twice before scrapping to knot the game at 3-3.

Final 2018 USL Eastern Conference standings:

1. FC Cincinnati - 77 pts. (23-3-8)

2. Louisville City FC - 66 pts. (19-6-9)

3. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC - 59 pts. (15-5-14)

4. Charleston Battery - 56 pts. (14-6-14)

5. NYRBII - 52 points (13-8-12).

6. Bethlehem Steel FC - 50 pts (14-12-8)

7. Indy Eleven - 49 pts. (13-11-10)

8. Nashville SC - 49 pts. (12-9-13)

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9. (e) North Carolina FC - 47 pts. (13-13-8)

10. (e) Ottawa Fury FC - 45 pts. (13-15-6)