For 34 games in the regular season, the New York Red Bulls were the best team Major League Soccer. The Red Bulls set the MLS record for points in a season with 71 and won the Supporters’ Shield. But on Saturday, in the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinal, Columbus Crew SC was the better team and earned an impressive 1-0 win.
Just two minutes into the game, Gyasi Zardes looked to get Crew SC on the board. The forward picked up the ball near midfield and drove toward goal, firing a shot from just outside the penalty box that went wide of Luis Robles’ goal.