HANOVER, N.J. – With two games remaining in the regular season, the New York Red Bulls still have plenty to play for. The top spot in the Eastern Conference, a CONCACAF Champions League berth, and a bye into the conference semifinals all remain a distinct possibility for the reigning Supporters’ Shield champions.
When it comes to this weekend’s opponent, however, there is decidedly less on the line.
By virtue of their 2-2 draw with the Chicago Fire on Thursday night, Columbus Crew SC have been eliminated from the 2016 MLS Playoffs in quite disappointing fashion. A year after eliminating the Red Bulls en route to an appearance in MLS Cup 2015, the Ohio club has looked a shell of their former selves throughout the current campaign.
Returning many of their key players from last season, there was plenty of reason to be optimistic for head coach Gregg Berhalter’s third year at the helm. But after a controversial on-field spat between stars Federico Higuain and Kei Kamara, the latter was shipped off to New England and the team never recovered.
Despite their shortcomings, New York head coach Jesse Marsch remains wary of the threat Columbus could well pose come Sunday afternoon.
“We’re expecting their best, period,” he insisted. “There were a number of big players that didn’t feature against Chicago, so I’m not sure if they were injured or being saved for us, but we know Columbus enough to know that they’ll bring their best. There’s enough between us two teams over the last two years that we’d be foolish to expect anything but their very best.”
Indeed, lethal striker Ola Kamara was an unused sub on Thursday night, leaving some to ponder his true availability in what was a do-or-die matchup for Columbus.
His health may be in question, but there can be no doubting his effectiveness since joining the club midseason. In just 19 starts, the Norwegian has bagged 15 goals to lead the way for the Crew.
“It says a lot about their system that they were able to take a guy like Kei Kamara out and put in Ola Kamara and get the same production,” Marsch continued. “They’re clearly doing something right on the offensive end of things.”
For all intents and purposes, the Crew’s season is effectively over. But with that finality comes a fair amount of uncertainty.
Columbus could well feature younger, oft-unused players in an attempt to posture themselves for the 2017 campaign. But with so much still at stake for New York, goalkeeper Luis Robles is more concerned with his side than the opposition’s scenario.
“The main focus has to be on what we’re doing,” he said. “Since they have nothing to lose, sometimes those are the most dangerous teams. But if we can go in with the right mentality and continue to build on the performances we’ve had the past few months, this is a great opportunity for us to get ready for the playoffs.”
