Eastern Conference Championship, Leg 2: New York Red Bulls (0) vs. Columbus Crew SC (2)
Sunday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, TSN2)
Home field advantage in the playoffs: You can either take advantage of it, or waste it away. Columbus Crew SC took full advantage of it in their 2-0 first leg win over New York Red Bulls in front of a sold out MAPFRE Stadium to move within one game of their first MLS Cup since 2008. Crew SC forward Justin Meram wasted no time in scoring the fastest goal in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs history with his goal nine seconds into the match (watch here). Cedrick Mabwati, one of the catalysts in Crew SC’s second leg win over the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, came on in the 80th minute for Ethan Finlay and made an instant impact. In the 85th minute, Mabwati blew by Dax McCarty and Gonzalo Veron and forced Luis Robles into a diving save, only for Kei Kamara tap in the loose ball into the back of the net to double the lead (watch here). The last time Crew SC advanced to MLS Cup was in 2008 against the New York Red Bulls and won 3-1 at The Home Depot Center.
Sunday, Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, TSN2)
Home field advantage in the playoffs: You can either take advantage of it, or waste it away. Columbus Crew SC took full advantage of it in their 2-0 first leg win over New York Red Bulls in front of a sold out MAPFRE Stadium to move within one game of their first MLS Cup since 2008. Crew SC forward Justin Meram wasted no time in scoring the fastest goal in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs history with his goal nine seconds into the match (watch here). Cedrick Mabwati, one of the catalysts in Crew SC’s second leg win over the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, came on in the 80th minute for Ethan Finlay and made an instant impact. In the 85th minute, Mabwati blew by Dax McCarty and Gonzalo Veron and forced Luis Robles into a diving save, only for Kei Kamara tap in the loose ball into the back of the net to double the lead (watch here). The last time Crew SC advanced to MLS Cup was in 2008 against the New York Red Bulls and won 3-1 at The Home Depot Center.
The Red Bulls will have some work ahead of them to make up the two-goal deficit in leg two at Red Bull Arena. New York was 12-3-2 at home during the regular season. The Red Bulls scored two or more goals in 12 regular season games at home this season and ended the regular season with nine consecutive home games with two or more goals scored. Forward Bradley Wright-Phillips was tied for second in the league with Kei Kamara for the most goals scored at home during the regular season with 13. In their one home game against Crew SC on Oct. 3, New York defeated Columbus 2-1 behind goals from Bradley Wright-Phillips and Lloyd Sam. Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year Luis Robles will have to be in superb form at home, where he’s posted seven shutouts at Red Bull Arena during the regular and postseason, if the Red Bulls are to advance to their first MLS Cup since 2008.
By: Editor
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