The Columbus Crew has officially clinched a spot in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, returning to the postseason for the first time in three years. With two regular-season matches to play, the Black & Gold are assured of finishing no lower than fifth place in the Eastern Conference following Toronto FC's draw against the Montreal Impact earlier today.
Entering tomorrow's contest against the New York Red Bulls (3:00 p.m. ET / UniMas and Time Warner Cable SportsChannel), the Crew maintains the possibility of finishing as high as third place in the Eastern Conference. Should the Black & Gold finish in fourth place, they will host their MLS Cup Playoff opener in the Knockout Round on either Wednesday, October 29 or Thursday, October 30, depending on how the final standings shape up.
2014 marks the 12th all-time postseason berth for the Black & Gold and the first since 2011. The Crew won MLS Cup in 2008, the first of four consecutive MLS Cup Playoff appearances for the club.
By qualifying for the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter becomes the first coach in Crew history to achieve the feat in his first full season at the helm without previous interim experience at the club. Tom Fitzgerald (1997), Greg Andrulis (2002) and Robert Warzycha (2009) each took the Black & Gold to the postseason in their first full year as Head Coach but had previously taken the reins of the club on an interim basis.
The winner of the Eastern Conference Knockout Round faces the top seed in the Conference Semifinals in a two-match aggregate clash, with the winners battling the victors of the second and third seed Semifinal match-up. The two remaining seeds are set to battle in another two-match set-up in the Eastern Conference Final with an opportunity to play for MLS Cup on the line.
If the Crew earns the third seed, it would earn a bye to the Conference Semifinals, which are slated to be played on November 22-23 and November 29-30. MLS Cup is scheduled for Sunday, December 7.
Single-match MLS Cup Playoff tickets can be purchased by calling 614-447-CREW, and online viaTheCrew.com and Ticketmaster.com. Three-match plans are only available by calling 614-447-CREW and through TheCrew.com. In the event the Crew does not host the maximum number of matches, fans would be fully refunded for any unused Crew Stadium postseason tickets purchased.
