For the second straight season, the New York Red Bulls bowed out of the MLS Cup playoffs after falling in the Eastern Conference Championship.
MLSsoccer.com’s Eric Giacometti explains how the Columbus Crew defeated the much-favored New York Red Bulls.
As the Supporters’ Shield champions in 2015, the Red Bulls had the luxury of hosting the second leg knowing just what they needed to do in order to advance. The game plan was in place, but New York could hardly put up a fight against a well-rehearsed Columbus Crew SC.
For the Eastern Conference Champions Columbus Crew SC, the battle was won in the midfield. Leading into the series, much of the discussion revolved around the similar tactical makeups of both the Red Bulls and Columbus, both of whom prefer the 4-2-3-1. And whereas New York’s triumvirate of Felipe, Dax McCarty and Sacha Kljestan had been so routinely lauded over the course of the season, their counterparts managed to outshine them over the two legs.
In leg one, Argentine playmaker Federico Higuain ran wild to cause New York fits. His movement and deft touch often had the Red Bulls scrambling to find cover while the likes of Justin Meram and Ethan Finlay played the beneficiaries. Back in Harrison for the return leg, Will Trapp and Tony Tchani expertly silenced New York’s greatest strength in the heart of their midfield with some physical and dominating play. Red Bulls captain McCarty had an uncharacteristically poor series, leading to another excruciating exit for a notoriously embattled franchise.
Columbus also managed to hold the league’s most prolific attack to just one goal over the two legs, a 93rd minute header from Anatole Abang when New York committed numbers forward with nothing to lose. The key was not only the midfield battle, but also in the Crew’s ability to completely silence forward Bradley Wright-Phillips. The diminutive Englishman rarely had a sniff at goal as Columbus imposed their will with some chippy play to unsettle Wright-Phillips. After the series, New York head coach Jesse Marsch lamented the lack of attention referee Baldomero Toledo paid to the tactical fouling throughout the match, but the tact worked to perfection. Wingers Lloyd Sam and Mike Grella also had trouble providing Wright-Phillips with any sort of consistent service, making a for a frustrating evening for the 2014 Golden Boot Winner.
At the end of the day, Columbus managed to change up their style to throw one last surprise at New York, while the Red Bulls simply couldn’t adapt. Long known for their propensity to play out of the back, Crew SC abandoned their usual tactics to confuse the Red Bulls, just one more reason why they will be fighting for MLS Cup on Sunday, and New York will be resigned to a seat on the couch.
Follow Eric Giacometti on Twitter @Eric_Giacometti
