Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs – Round One
Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls
MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus
November 21 – 3:00 PM ET
TV: UniMás, TUDN, TSN 1/4, TVA Sports
STREAMING:LIVE STREAM
For the fifth time, Columbus Crew SC and the New York Red Bulls will square off in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs with the Eastern Conference foes meeting in a Round One Match Nov. 21.
For much of the season, Caleb Porter's Crew were the standard bearers and the team most likely to capture the Supporters' Shield. They lost just once in their first 13 games of the season, conceding five goals during that dominant span. But then Columbus were hit hard by injuries, with influential players Darlington Nagbe, Lucas Zelarayan, Gyasi Zardes and Eloy Room missing significant time. As a result, Columbus won just one of their next seven and not only were their Shield hopes dashed, a chance of hosting a playoff game was in jeopardy. But they finished strong, winning two of their final three to clinch a top-four spot, ensuring at least one more playoff game at MAPFRE Stadium.
The Red Bulls season was a rollercoaster one, with Chris Armas relieved of his duties in early September. Bradley Carnell took over as a caretaker before the club hired Gerhard Struber, who has finally joined the club and will coach at MAPFRE Stadium. Their best run of form came after the club signed Caden Clark, with the Red Bulls losing just once in their last seven, including a Decision Day presented by AT&T win over Toronto FC, which made sure there'd be no Supporters' Shield celebration for the visitors at Red Bull Arena.
The Crew won the lone meeting this season, a dominant 2-0 victory at the MLS is Back Tournament. The Red Bulls prevailed in the last playoff meeting, beating Columbus in a two-legged Conference Semifinal in 2018. The Crew took the first leg 1-0 at home before the Red Bulls pulled out a 3-0 win at RBA.
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- Crew 'keeper Eloy Room wins MLS Save of the Year
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- RBNY's Kaku dishes on his favorite musical artists, best concert
- Crew GM Bezbatchenko talks 2020 season, future ambitions
Columbus Crew SC
A new downtown stadium is on the horizon, but the Crew made sure MAPFRE Stadium would host at least one more playoff game, beating Atlanta United 2-1 on Decision Day. Zelarayan and Zardes scored a goal in each half to give Columbus a two-goal lead before Marcelino Moreno scored from the penalty spot to pull Atlanta back a goal just before the hour mark. Porter thinks it's a win that provides them a good preview of whats ahead in a matchup against the Red Bulls.
And now that his team is in the postseason, and healthy, Porter has the utmost confidence of a deep run.
“If we don't get there, it's not the end of the world. We will eventually get there. But my belief is it will be this year. And I know the players believe that and that they have a mind towards that,” Porter said in a video conference call with reporters.
“Every day that I've had in these two years here has been geared towards these type of games. And I try to build a mindset in the group that every day matters, every detail adds up and it's all towards winning something. And I think the group has been thinking about these type of moments for a while. And so we'll see if we're ready for it.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Vito Wormgoor (D) - ankle injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
New York Red Bulls
The Red Bulls response from a heavy Hudson River Derby defeat was a good one, racing out to a two-goal lead in the first half to beat a Toronto FC side that were alive in the Supporters' Shield race on Decision Day. Tom Barlow and Brian White scored a pair of goals two minutes apart before the half-hour mark to move the Red Bulls into sixth place and avoid a Play-In Match.
Now Struber is here, quarantined and ready to work and has a few training sessions under his belt ahead of his first match.
“It’s a special situation for me and the team," Struber told media on a virtual press conference Thursday. “I’ve had good communication with Bradley and the staff, and always good exchanges with (head of sport) Kevin (Thelwell). Right now I’m here, right now I have the responsibility for results, development and decisions.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Patrick Seagrist (D) - groin injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Crew SC
- Crew SC: 17 wins, 49 goals
- Red Bulls: 12 wins, 47 goals
- 7 draws
MLS Cup Playoffs
- Crew SC: 5 wins, 12 goals
- Red Bulls: 2 wins, 9 goals
- 0 draws
Officials
- Referee: Alex Chilowicz
- Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Eric Weisbrod
- 4th Official: Fotis Bazakos
- VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
