When Crew SC climbed to the two highest points in franchise history, the New York Red Bulls were there to meet them.
The first time, in 2008, the Crew beat the Red Bulls 3-1 to win its first MLS Cup title.
The second time, last November, the Crew beat the Red Bulls 2-1 in a two-leg Eastern Conference final to advance to a second MLS Cup, a final it lost 2-1 to visiting Portland.
Tonight, they’ll resume their 63-game regular-season series at Mapfre Stadium, though under very different circumstances.
If the Crew and Red Bulls were to make repeat trips to a conference final, it would be a surprise.