A spot in the knockout round of the MLS Is Back tournament could be clinched Thursday night should either the Columbus Crew or New York Red Bulls emerge victorious in their Group E encounter in Orlando.
Of the two clubs, the Crew (2-0-1) are in better shape, currently leading the group by virtue of their 4-0 hammering of FC Cincinnati on Sunday in the latest installment of the "Hell Is Real" derby. Lucas Zelaryan's free kick on 27 minutes opened the floodgates for Columbus as Gyasi Zardes had a brace on either side of halftime before Youness Mokhtar completed the goal-scoring flurry on the hour.