So much has transpired within the Columbus Crew organization in the span of just over a year. On July 29, 2013, Anthony Precourt officially took over as investor/operator after the club had been run by the Hunt family since its inception. A few months later in November, upon the Crew’s second consecutive season missing the playoffs, Gregg Berhalter was named head coach, taking over from Robert Warzycha who was fired roughly a month after Precourt took over. Fast forward a year later and the team now sports a new visual identity and recently wrapped up a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs for the first time since 2011.
It was said over the past few weeks that Columbus essentially controlled its own playoff destiny. Just continue to rack up points and a postseason berth was all but assured. That was undoubtedly true, but it’s funny how things work out sometimes because in the end their destiny in this regard ultimately was decided a few hundred miles north of Crew Stadium.
Despite the fact that they trailed the Crew by six points with two games remaining, there still remained an outside shot that Toronto FC could win out and get the fifth and final playoff spot if Columbus went 0-fer to close out the season. If they could get a win at home against Montreal, a team that has occupied the Eastern Conference cellar all year, the possibility was there to remain alive in the event the Crew slipped up. However, on a dreary Saturday afternoon at BMO Field in Toronto, a listless 1-1 draw that resembled the weather took place, putting to bed what microscopic postseason hopes TFC had and locking it up for the Black and Gold while they waited to play the New York Red Bulls the following day.
If you thought Columbus would let complacency set in on account of officially clinching a playoff spot while having yet to play their game, you were vastly mistaken. The Crew came out confident, aggressive and ready to face whatever came their way. If anything, the Red Bulls appeared to be a tad bit on the complacent side. League-leading goalscorer Bradley Wright-Phillips was largely kept in check by the Columbus back line. His only real chance to add to his total came in the 41st minute with a powerful shot from just outside the penalty box that was well-saved by Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark. Earlier in the game in the 27th minute, he parried away another streaking attempt on goal from Thierry Henry.
Back when these two teams last met at Red Bull Arena on July 12th, it could be argued that Columbus played its worst game of the season. Though they were shorthanded, New York turned on the jets in the second half and a 1-1 scoreline quickly metastasized into a 4-1 defeat for the Crew. What a difference three months and change makes because their performance, particularly transitioning from the opponent’s middle third of the field into their attacking third, may have been the season’s best.
Ethan Finlay was a revelation all over the place and showed how dangerous he can be creating chances down the right flank. Both of his assists on the day came via precision passes into the middle of the box which were both promptly finished by Aaron Schoenfeld. Speaking of “Big Celery”, the fact that he had two goals speaks volumes to his improvement over the course of the season. Plagued by a seemingly chronic inability to finish chances when he first began breaking into the starting lineup, he might possibly be turning into a legitimate singular weapon up front in Berhalter’s 4-2-3-1.
In the end, Columbus took advantage of shoddy defending all around from New York to come away with the 3-1 road win, snapping the Red Bulls’ nine-game unbeaten run in Harrison and moving into fourth place in the conference standings. The only blunder of the day came from a masterful bit of artistry on the ball from Lloyd Sam. Having made the most of a beautiful Dax McCarty diagonal ball down the right, he proceeded to carve up Bernardo Anor who was playing too much on his heels, and fired a laser that beat Clark on the near post.
What’s Next for the Columbus Crew?
As of right now, Crew Stadium would be the site of the four seed-five seed knockout round game and would involve these same two clubs. Actually, now might be a good time to take a look at a few playoff scenarios and where the Crew would end up in each separate situation.
All of these possible scenarios hinge on the outcome of Columbus’ home meeting with Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon at 4 pm (UniMas, MLS Live, Time Warner Cable Ohio), as well as the Red Bulls 8:30 pm (ESPN2) clash at Sporting Kansas City which marks the official end of the MLS regular season. Let’s take a look at them all.
Scenario A: Columbus finishes third in the East, faces New England in the conference semifinals
Columbus beats Philadelphia, New York either wins or draws against Kansas City.
If the Red Bulls win, they host Kansas City in the knockout round game; in the event of a draw, Kansas City would host.
Columbus can also move to third with a draw against Philadelphia along with a New York win as long as the Red Bulls margin of victory is five goals or less.
Scenario B: Columbus finishes fourth in the East, hosts New York in knockout round
Columbus loses to or draws with Philadelphia, combined with a New York loss or draw against Kansas City.
Scenario C: Columbus finishes fourth in the East, hosts Kansas City in knockout round
As far-fetched as this one sounds, it’s possible so I have to include it. If Columbus and Philly draw and the Red Bulls defeat SKC on the road by at least six goals (yeah, probably not going to happen but you never know), the Crew would be tied on points with New York in addition to having identical goal differential. In this instance, the next tiebreaker is goals scored of which the Red Bulls would have the advantage and finish third as a result.
Scenario D: Columbus finishes fifth in the East, travels to Kansas City in knockout round
Columbus drops a decision at home to Philadelphia, combined with a Red Bulls win at Sporting Park. Both the Crew and SKC would move down a spot and the Red Bulls would move up to third and take on New England in the conference semifinals.
With the way all four teams are playing at the moment, you certainly can’t discount the possibility of the Crew moving up into that third spot when all is set and done on Sunday night. Sporting Kansas City are 3-6-1 over their last ten and have only won two of their last five at Sporting Park. A road win for the Red Bulls is certainly conceivable. Meanwhile, the Union are probably still having nightmares over the way they let a 2-0 lead in the 75th minute snowball into a 3-2 deficit a mere nine minutes later. Despite notching a win over the aforementioned SKC last weekend at home, Columbus might have the mental edge going into Sunday’s season finale.
In the words of college basketball analyst Dick Vitale, it’s been a “super, scintillating, sensational” MLS regular season, one of the most exciting I can remember. With this being my final regular season column covering the Crew, I must say that it has been an absolute blast putting these articles together since I began writing for Last Word On Sports in July. The postseason is upon us and as such the tension and drama will be raised to a whole new level and I hope to continue to be able to put forth my own unique commentary on the unfolding events.
Though the eyes of most MLS aficionados will be fixated on CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Saturday afternoon for the Supporters’ Shield showdown between the Galaxy and the Sounders, mine as well as those of Crew Nation will also be focused on what transpires at One Black and Gold Boulevard for the season finale. The first hurdle has been cleared in terms of erasing this relatively short playoff drought that may have felt protracted and drawn out in the eyes of the fans. Next up is a run at getting a second star embroidered next to the first to make the new badge really look good next season.
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