The playoff hopes were short-lived for the New York Red Bulls as they were defeated 3-2 in the first round of the MLS playoffs Saturday afternoon. Pedro Santos, Ex-Red Bull Darlington Nagbe and Gyasi Zardes all found the net for the Crew, while youngster Caden Clark and Brian White scored for New York.
Clark started the scoring off in the 23rd minute. After a poor clearance from Harrison Afful, the 17 year old Minnesotan, who was undefended in the box, hit a strike past keeper Eloy Room.
It only took three minutes for Columbus to level the score. Pedro Santos scored from the penalty spot after Dru Yearwood fouled him in the box. Santos easily beat Ryan Meara from the spot and tied up the score.
Darlington Nagbe broke the deadlock in the 46th minute and Gyasi Zardes added a crucial insurance goal in the 68th. Brian White would get one back for New York in stoppage time but, in the end, it was too little, too late.
The Red Bulls finish the season with many questions to be answered. With a new coaching system in place and an open transfer window on the horizon, New York will look to finish better than this year’s 6th place in 2021.
Edited by Nick Sbordone
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