CINCINNATI – Already in its short history, FC Cincinnati has hosted some big games at Nippert Stadium, but the visit of Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday night for the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup has the promise of being a major night in the club’s history.

The first meeting of any kind between the two Ohio clubs is set for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff tonight, with more than 21,000 fans already sold for the contest as of Tuesday night according to the club. It also marks FCC’s first chance to square off with an MLS opposition of any kind in the historic tournament.

“It is interesting, of course, because we play in different leagues and we have never played each other,” FC Cincinnati midfielder Jimmy McLaughlin told the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Patrick Brennan. “But I think with us trying to be an MLS team, I think we've been itching to play the other MLS team in the state and our closest rival we could have... We're all buzzing about the match.”