COLUMBUS — The final day of the Major League Soccer regular season promised plenty of drama with all 11 games Sunday slated to start at the same time. Columbus Crew SC needed a win against visiting Minnesota United or a Montreal Impact loss to secure a spot in the playoffs.
After just nine minutes of play, nature intervened and forced the game into a weather delay that lasted more than an hour. The break allowed Columbus to watch games around the league and figure out just what they needed to do to clinch a postseason berth.
The team wasted no time once the game resumed, scoring in just two minutes. Federico Higuain took a short corner kick to Milton Valenzuela, who crossed the ball to Gyasi Zardes for the first goal. When the teams went into the locker room for halftime, the Crew learned they were going to the playoffs regardless of the result of their match due to the New England Revolution beating Montreal 1-0.
Still, the result of their game would affect playoff seeding.
“We were dialed in. We were sitting on our phones — putting it down, picking it up, putting it down — it was difficult,” Columbus head coach Gregg Berhalter said, “But when we talked about, ‘OK, we’re going to come in from halftime and know the final results of these matches,’ we got over it and focused on the first half.”
The second half started off well. Zardes found the back of the net again in the 49th minute. After drawing a foul at the top of the box, Higuain sent a free kick right into the arms of Minnesota keeper Matt Lampson, who couldn’t hold onto the shot and let it drop to a charging Zardes.
Momentum took a turn after that. Columbus took its foot off the gas and allowed Minnesota to get back into the game. Loons captain Francisco Calvo scored in the 68th and 77th minutes to level the game. Had that scoreline held, Columbus would’ve been the sixth seed in the playoffs and faced New York City FC in the knockout round.
Instead, Zardes struck again for the first hat trick of his professional career in the 83rd minute.
“To be successful in today’s game is great,” Zardes said. “It’s great that we ended the season on a win. … We keep progressing. That’s always been our motto.”
The win lifted Crew SC to fifth in the Eastern conference and secured a first-round matchup against red hot DC United, which is unbeaten in its last 10 matches and performing much better after the midseason addition of Wayne Rooney.
“I’m excited to see the stadium. We haven’t been there yet, so I think that’s a positive” Berhalter said. “D.C. is a good team. They have good players. We’ll be prepared, though. When you look at the matchups, I don’t think there is any one where you say, ‘That’s an easy matchup.’ All the games are difficult. We know we have a tough task ahead of us, but we know we’re a good team.”
Should Columbus beat D.C. on the road midweek, it would face either No. 2 Atlanta United or the Supporters Shield-winning New York Red Bulls in a home-and-home playoff series.