BRONX, N.Y. – The Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Championship awaits Columbus Crew SC after it held serve and defeated New York City FC in the semifinal series on aggregate scoring by a margin of 4-3 after a match that finished 2-0 in favor of NYCFC on Sunday.

The Black & Gold will face Toronto FC for the right to host the MLS Cup final in a series that will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. ET at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.

During the 15^th minute, NYCFC forward Rodney Wallace went down in the box in a tie-up with Crew SC defender Josh Williams in an attempt to chase down a ball. A penalty was called on Williams which resulted in NYCFC forward David Villa converting a penalty kick into the center of the net to put the Pigeons ahead 1-0.

New York City tacked on another goal in the 53^rd minute when a ball from defender Andraz Struna inadvertently ricocheted off the body of Crew SC defender Jonathan Mensah and found the back of the net. Wallace sent the pass to Struna prior to the goal and was credited with an assist.

The Black & Gold defenders were on their toes at Yankee Stadium as they persevered to hold their aggregate-goal lead. Columbus recorded 34 clearances compared to NYCFC’s nine. Crew SC goalkeeper Zack Steffen also tallied four saves compared to Sean Johnson’s one.

MATCH INFO

Venue: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)"
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Armando Villarreal
​Video Assistant Referee: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 23,246
Weather: Cloudy

GOALS/ASSISTS                                                                         

16’ – NYC – David Villa (PK)
53’ – NYC – Andraz Struna (Rodney Wallace)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY

CLB – Mohammed Abu (Caution) 63’
NYC – Rodney Wallace (Caution) 74’

LINEUPS

Columbus Crew SC: Zack Steffen; Hector Jimenez, Josh Williams, Jonathan Mensah, Harrison Afful; Mohammed Abu, Wil Trapp ©; Justin Meram (Kekuta Manneh 69’), Federico Higuain, Pedro Santos (Adam Jahn 88’); Ola Kamara (Lalas Abubakar 76’)
Substitutes not used: Brad Stuver, Waylon Francis, Jukka Raitala, Artur

New York City FC: Sean Johnson; Ben Sweat, Andraz Struna (Sean Okoli 82’), Frederic Brillant, Ronald Matarrita (Andrea Pirlo 90’); Maximiliano Moralez, Alexander Ring, Yangel Herrera; Rodney Wallace (Jonathan Lewis 90’+3’), David Villa ©, Jack Harrison
Substitutes not used: Eirik Johansen, Thomas McNamara, Ethan White, Kwame Awuah

NOTES

Not this time

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, a three-goal lead after the First Leg has never been overturned in the history of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. This holds true after another round due to Crew SC advancing after initially leading 4-1 after leg one.

Youth movement

Crew SC is the youngest team remaining in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. The team Columbus dispatched, NYCFC, was the second youngest. The average age of the 23 players that played in at least one or more regular-season matches for the Black & Gold is 26 years, according to Transfermarkt.