The Columbus Dispatch

Columbus Crew score late goal, defeat New York Red Bulls 3-2 on Decision Day: Replay

By Brianna Mac Kay, Columbus Dispatch,

7 hours ago

With a 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls, the Crew are guaranteed to face the Red Bulls in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs.

Going into MLS Decision Day, which marks the final day of the regular season, the Crew had secured second in the Eastern Conference and the Red Bulls were sitting in seventh. The only way for New York to jump into sixth and avoid the Crew matchup included a victory over Columbus.

Forward Aziel Jackson gave the Crew an advantage early, scoring two minutes into the match off an assist from striker Cucho Hernandez.

Hernandez, who's in the MVP race, finishes the regular season with 19 goals and 14 assists.

It was a homecoming game for New York-native Jackson and 12 minutes after scoring, Jackson set up the Crew's second goal. Off an assist from Jackson, defender Yevhen Cheberko scored. The goal was Cheberko's first goal since joining the club midway through last season.

After holding a 2-0 lead for over 64 minutes, Red Bulls started to build a comeback with a goal from midfielder Emil Forsberg.

Forsberg would score again when Crew defender Rudy Camacho was called for a penalty inside Columbus' box, which resulted in a penalty kick for New York.

It looked like the game would finish in a draw, but defender Malte Amundsen found one more goal for Columbus seven minutes into stoppage time for the victory.

The Crew finish with 66 points in the regular season, a club record.

(90+7) Malte Amundsen puts Columbus Crew back ahead, New York Red Bulls down 3-2

From the top of the Red Bulls' box, defender Malte Amundsen netted a goal to put the Crew back on top against the Red Bulls in stoppage time.

(88') New York Red Bulls score on penalty kick, Columbus Crew tied 2-2

Following the penalty from Rudy Camacho, Red Bulls midfielder Emil Forsberg sent the penalty kick attempt past goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, finding the right side of the goal.

The Crew and Red Bulls are tied 2-2.

(86') Columbus Crew defender Rudy Camacho called for penalty inside box, New York Red Bulls get PK

Defender Rudy Camacho was quickly called for a penalty inside the Crew's box when he fouled a Red Bulls forward Elias Manoel, setting up a penalty kick for New York.

(80') Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls make additional substitutions

Both the Crew and Red Bulls made a substitution following New York's goal. The Crew had midfielder DeJuan Jones replace Max Arfsten and the Red Bulls had midfielder Wikelman Carmona replace Daniel Edelman.

(78') New York Red Bulls scores first goal vs Columbus Crew, cut lead to 2-1

Midfielder Emil Forsberg put New York on the board against the Crew, scoring from the middle of Columbus' box despite being contested by multiple Crew defenders. Crew lead 2-1.

(74') Sean Zawadzki enters vs New York Red Bulls

Midfielder Sean Zawadzki makes his first appearance for the Crew since injuring his rib against Club America in the Campeones Cup on Sept. 25. Zawadzki replaced Alex Matan.

(62') Columbus Crew make changes to frontline vs New York Red Bulls

The Crew made two substitutions, changing the frontline vs Red Bulls.

Christian Ramirez replaces Aziel Jackson
Diego Rossi replaces Cucho Hernandez

(54') No penalty on collision between Nicholas Hagen, Cameron Harper

Following a VAR review, officials determined there was no penalty during the collision between Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen and midfielder Cameron Harper inside the Crew's box.

The Red Bulls were pushing for the review, as it was Hagen's jumping forward that caused the collision. The collision happened on a corner kick play, and then ball was heading in Harper's direction when Hagen jumped to make a defensive play.

If there was a penalty, it could have led to a penalty kick for the Red Bulls, in a game they're down 2-0.

(47') Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls make a substitution

A few minutes into the second half, both teams have made a substitution. For the Crew, forward Jacen Russell-Rowe replaces midfielder Derrick Jones and for New York, midfielder Peter Stroud replaces Cameron Harper.

(47') Malte Amundsen shown yellow card, third violation for Columbus Crew

Crew defender earned the third yellow card for the team against the Red Bulls following a foul against Ronald Donkor.

Columbus Crew lead 2-0 vs New York Red Bulls in final regular-season game

The Crew lead in the final game of the regular season behind goals from Aziel Jackson and Yevhen Cheberko. Here are the first half stats

Shots: Crew (10), New York (5)
Shots on goal: Crew (4), New York (3)
Goalkeeper saves: Crew (3), New York (2)
Fouls: Crew (6), New York (4)
Possession rate: Crew (65.9%), New York (34.1%)

(45+2) Columbus Crew midfielder Max Arfsten earns yellow card

Midfielder Max Arfsten was shown a yellow card for a foul against Red Bulls' Peter Stroud, the second Crew yellow card of the game.

(44') Columbus Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen denies New York Red Bulls of first goal

Red Bulls forward Felipe Carballo took a shot from the right side of the Crew's goal, but goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen was able to step out and deny Carballo's opportunity. To ensure the ball was out of the Red Bulls' control, defender Rudy Camacho cleared the ball.

(34') Columbus Crew given yellow card vs New York Red Bulls

Midfielder Derrick Jones was given the first yellow card of the game following a foul against Daniel Edelman.

(17') Aziel Jackson called offsides, fails to score second goal vs New York Red Bulls

It looked as thought forward Aziel Jackson was going to score his second goal against the Red Bulls off a corner kick opportunity for the Crew, but was called offside by the sideline official. Jackson tried to signal for a VAR review, but the play was not checked.

(16') New York Red Bulls fail to capitalize on free kick opportunity vs Columbus Crew

The Red Bulls were awarded a free kick right outside the Crew's box after Emil Forsberg fouled Daniel Edelman. From the left side, the Red Bulls took their attempt, and despite getting multiple touches on the ball, failed to score.

(13') Columbus Crew Yevhen Cheberko extends lead 2-0 vs New York Red Bulls

Defender Yevhen Cheberko scored his first goal of the season with an attempt from the left side of the field against the Red Bulls.

Forward Aziel Jackson found Cheberko making a run in the box, and sent him a pass upfield, making the goal Jackson's second contribution of the game. Columbus leads 2-0.

(12') Aziel Jackson goes down with apparent ankle injury

Just ten minutes after scoring the first goal for Columbus, forward Aziel Jackson went down with apparent pain in his right ankle. Jackson originally went down following a hit from Red Bulls midfielder Peter Stroud, but was able to get up in less than a minute.

Jackson, once again, was able to get up on his own without medical attention and remained in the game.

(2') Cucho Hernandez connects with Aziel Jackson, Columbus Crew lead 1-0 vs New York Red Bulls

Crew striker Cucho Hernandez had the ball on the left side of the field, outside the Red Bulls box when he connected with forward Aziel Jackson on a long pass upfield. Jackson was standing in the center of the box and quickly turned the pass into a header goal, giving Columbus a 1-0 lead early in the match.

MLS Eastern Conference standings: Where teams rank ahead of MLS Cup playoffs

Inter Miami (21-4-8): 71 points
Columbus Crew (18-6-9): 63 points
FC Cincinnati (17-11-5): 56 points
Orlando City SC (15-11-7): 52 points
New York City FC (14-11-8): 50 points
Charlotte FC: (13-11-9): 48 points
New York Red Bulls (11-8-14): 47 points
D.C. United (10-13-10): 40 points
CF Montreal (10-13-10): 40 points
Toronto FC (11-19-4): 37 points
Philadelphia Union (9-14-10): 37 points
Atlanta United (9-14-10): 37 points
Nashville SC (8-16-9): 33 points
New England Revolution (9-20-4): 31 points
Chicago Fire (7-17-9): 30 points

Columbus Crew injury report vs New York Red Bulls

The Crew are missing defender Steven Moreira (ankle), midfielder Mo Farsi (concussion) and goalkeeper Evan Bush (arm) for their game against the New York Red Bulls. It is unclear when Farsi suffered a concussion.

Coach Wilfried Nancy confirmed that Moreira would be unavailable on Wednesday, and also noted that midfielder Sean Zawadzki (rib) might be unable to play.

"Step by step, they feel better," Nancy said. "So now, this is not possible to give you exactly a date, because they’re doing well. So, for this weekend, I don’t think so, but for next week, should be ok."

Zawadzki is on the bench for the Red Bulls game.