NY Red Bulls 1-0 Columbus (Oct 29, 2024) Match analysis

Felipe Carballo scored a goal in the 25th minute, Carlos Coronel made eight saves and the visiting New York Red Bulls were just one game away from defeating the reigning MLS Cup champions with an impressive 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Round 1 series on Tuesday.

The No. 2-seeded Crew not only had 19 more points than the No. 7-seeded Red Bulls in the regular season, but with 66 points they were second in the MLS behind Lionel Messi and Inter Miami.

Game 2 in the best-of-three series takes place on Sunday in Harrison, New Jersey. The third game, if necessary, will be Nov. 10 in Columbus.

Coronel made an amazing left-handed save to deny DeJuan Jones in the 83rd minute as the Crew pushed for the equalizer.

New York had lost all four of its previous playoff games in Columbus, but improved to 3-5-1 all-time in postseason games against the Crew.

Carballo scored from a set-piece when the team was caught watching the ball and struck after a Dylan Nealis shot from the center of the box.

It was a deserved lead, as the Red Bulls' high pressure nullified a normally dynamic Crew attack that has scored more goals than any other club in MLS over the last two seasons.

Columbus' second best player Diego Rossi (12 goals, 11 assists) was unavailable due to back problems.

Coronel came up big early in the second half with saves on Christian Ramirez and Cucho Hernandez.

The team had 73 percent of the ball in the game, but was either thwarted by Coronel or had poor finishing.

Columbus defeated the Red Bulls twice in the regular season. They most recently defeated host New York 3-2 in the regular season finale on October 19, with a goal from Malte Amundsen in the 97th minute.

Amundsen was unavailable on Tuesday due to injury.

The Crew was extended to three games in the 2023 first round by Atlanta United, although in that case they won the first game.

They are aiming to become repeat champions along with Los Angeles Galaxy (2011-12), Houston Dynamo (2006-07) and DC United (1996-97).