Hell Is Real, yes. But the folks upstairs appear to have a sense of humor, too.

FC Cincinnati vanquished a few Audi MLS Cup Playoffs demons on Saturday night, rallying past their Ohio rivals (and 2023 postseason tormentors) the Columbus Crew for a 2-1 win that booked an Eastern Conference semifinal date with Lionel Messi and Inter Miami – and the identity of their hero provided a delightful twist.

Amid all the attacking firepower on FCC’s roster, it was Brenner , the Brazilian striker who left Cincy for Italy’s Serie A on decidedly suboptimal terms two years ago, only to return over the summer in a surprising, late-breaking loan move from Udinese, who bagged a second-half brace to flood sold-out TQL Stadium with both joy and relief.

“Two big moments,” said head coach Pat Noon

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