Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Match Preview: Decisive Second Leg Of Eastern Conference Championship
Black & Gold face the Red Bulls in Second Leg of Eastern Conference Championship with 2-0 lead on aggregate; Crew SC can advance to MLS Cup for second time ever and first time since 2008
Soccer News: Columbus Crew SC (2015 regular season: 15-11-8, 53 points) continues its Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs run by facing the New York Red Bulls (2015 regular season: 18-10-6, 60 points) in the decisive Second Leg of the Eastern Conference Championship at a sold-out Red Bull Arena on Sunday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
The contest is set to be nationally televised on FS1, with John Strong, Alexi Lalas and Julie Stewart-Binks on the call. Locally, the match can be heard on the radio in English on CD102.5 FM with Dwight Burgess and Neil Sika. Juan Valladares is set to be behind the microphone locally in Spanish for La Mega 103.1 FM.
In Columbus, Crew SC is hosting an official viewing party for the match, presented by Budweiser. Held at The Three-Legged Mare (401 N. Front St., Unit 150, Columbus OH 43215) in the Arena District, the viewing party is open to supporters of all ages, beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET. Budweiser draught pints will be on-sale to supporters 21-and-over for $2.50 during the party. Additionally, the 2008 MLS Cup will be on-hand for photo opportunities and supporters can participate in the Crew SC squares game for a chance to win great Black & Gold prizes like apparel, autographed memorabilia and more. The first 50 supporters in attendance will also receive a free Crew SC hat.
Like the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Eastern Conference Championship is decided over a two-legged series with aggregate scoring and away goals as the first tiebreaker. Following the First Leg, Crew SC travels to Red Bull Arena with a 2-0 lead on aggregate after goals from Justin Meram and Kei Kamara as a well as a defensive clean sheet on November 22. In this Second Leg, the Black & Gold can advance to MLS Cup for the second time in club history and the first time since 2008 with any win, draw, one-goal loss or two-goal loss in which they score at least one goal.
This contest continues the third all-time postseason series meeting between these two MLS originals. The two sides met in the 2008 MLS Cup, in which Crew SC defeated the Red Bulls by a 3-1 final to win its first League title, and the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a best-of-three series swept by the Black & Gold. Crew SC and the Red Bulls have met for five individual postseason matches all-time, with each contest having been played at a different venue: Ohio Stadium, Giants Stadium, the then-Home Depot Center, MAPFRE Stadium and now Red Bull Arena.
In the First Leg against the Red Bulls, midfielder Meram’s tally nine seconds into the match set the all-time MLS Cup Playoffs record for the fastest goal. Previously, the record was also held by Columbus, as Adrian Paz scored 26 seconds in on September 28, 1996 at Tampa Bay. In the second half, forward Kamara added his third goal of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, extending his team lead in the category.
The match attendance at MAPFRE Stadium for the first leg of 21,617 was the largest-ever home postseason attendance in Columbus Crew SC history, surpassing the previous record of 20,883 on September 22, 2001 against San Jose. It was also the first official sellout in Black & Gold home postseason history.
Tickets for a potential 2015 MLS Cup at MAPFRE Stadium on Sunday, December 6 are on-sale to the general public at http://bit.ly/MLSCup2015. In the event MAPFRE Stadium does not host the 2015 MLS Cup, members and single-match buyers would be fully refunded for any tickets purchased for that match. Should Crew SC advance past the Red Bulls, it would host the 2015 MLS Cup at MAPFRE Stadium if it faces-off against Portland Timbers FC in the championship, as the Black & Gold finished ahead of Portland in the final League standings. Should Crew SC advance to play the other Western Conference Championship participant, FC Dallas, the Black & Gold would play the 2015 MLS Cup on the road at Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas).
Columbus Crew SC at New York Red Bulls Sunday, November 29 – 7:30 p.m. ET – Red Bull Arena
National Television: FS1
Crew SC Radio: CD102.5 FM (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
International: M. East & N. Africa, Abu Dhabi Sports / Africa, FOX / USA, FOX 2 GO via Peform / Brazil, Globosat / China, LETV / Europe (exl UK & Eire), Eurosport / LATAM, FOX / Doha, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, BeIN Sports (ASIA AUS) / Indonesia, Philippines, BeIN Sports (ASIA) / Taiwan, Sportcast / UK & Eire, Sky Sports / UK, SNTV / Singapore, Starhub
