COLUMBUS – By virtue of defeating Atlanta United FC in penalty kicks (3-1) on Thursday night, Columbus Crew SC advances to the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals and is set to face New York City FC in a two-legged aggregate goal series. Crew SC is set to host New York City FC on Tuesday, October 31 at 8 p.m. ET at MAPFRE Stadium.
Tuesday’s match is set to be televised nationally on ESPN. Both matches also air locally on the radio on CD102.5 FM in English and on La Mega 103.1 FM in Spanish.
Tickets for the First Leg of Crew SC's Eastern Conference Semifinal match-up are now on sale as part of the Pay As We Play Plan for playoff matches, which includes tickets to each potential match held at MAPFRE Stadium through the Eastern Conference Championship. Crew SC Season Ticket Members, 10-Match Plan holders and the general public each have the option to purchase the Pay As We Play Plan for playoff matches at a discounted rate from single-match pricing with the flexibility of only being charged for matches once they are guaranteed to be played. Single-match tickets are also available and can be purchased atColumbusCrewSC.com.
This is the 12th time in club history that Crew SC has reached the Audi MLS Cup Conference Semifinals. This is also the third time in four seasons under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter the Black & Gold reach the same stage, having previously achieved this in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, the last time Crew SC reached the Conference Semifinals, the Black & Gold defeated the Montreal Impact over two legs on a 4-3 aggregate score en route to winning the Eastern Conference Championship and reaching the 2015 MLS Cup.
Crew SC posted a home record of 12-3-2 during the 2017 MLS regular season, setting a new club record for most home wins in a single regular season. Similarly, the Black & Gold finished the regular season on a 10-match unbeaten streak with a record of 6-0-4 dating back to a 3-1 home victory over the Chicago Fire on August 12. Following tonight’s victory over Atlanta United FC, Columbus is undefeated in 11 consecutive matches.
The Black & Gold faced New York City FC twice during the 2017 MLS regular season, losing 3-2 at MAPFRE Stadium on April 29 and playing to a 2-2 draw at Citi Field in Crew SC’s regular-season finale on October 22. Should Crew SC defeat New York City FC on aggregate goals over the two legs of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Semifinals, the Black & Gold would advance to the Eastern Conference Championship.
