The Columbus Crew are all that stand between Toronto FC and a second consecutive MLS Cup final.
The Crew lost twice to the Reds during the regular season, and finished 15 points behind the Supporters’ Shield champions. If this were baseball, that would be five games back after only 34 matches. Extrapolated for a full baseball season, that number would balloon to 24 games back.
But, since this isn’t baseball, that gap is meaningless.
Many are pointing to TFC’s lopsided 5-0 drubbing of Columbus earlier this year as proof of what can be accomplished against the Crew sans Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore, but any hope that history will repeat itself is pure folly at this point in the campaign.