Columbus Crew Playoff Tickets

Columbus Crew SC Playoff History

Columbus Crew SC is a founding member of Major League Soccer and an experienced playoff team. In their first four seasons, the Crew made the playoffs every year, but they failed to make the finals. Three of their first four playoff defeats came in the semifinals against D.C. United, creating a playoff rivalry between the two teams.

Columbus’s fortunes continued to wax and wane, and the team had some struggles in the mid 2000s. From 2003-2007, the Crew failed to make the playoffs four of five seasons, averaging only 10 wins a season. However, at their darkest time, Columbus was right around the corner from the highest achievement in Major League Soccer.

Prior to the 2008 season, the Crew’s only harware came in the form of a 2002 U.S. Open Cup victory, and the club had failed to make the MLS Cup finals. The 2008 regular season was the Black and Gold’s best-ever win total, and the club looked primed to take the next step. The Crew was armed with their best-ever team including MLS MVP and Argentine international Guillermo Barros Schelotto, MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall, and Coach of the Year Sigi Schmid.

Columbus took this momentum into the playoffs and beat the Kansas City Wizards 3-1 over two games. Steven Lenhart, Brad Evans, and Robbie Rogers notched the goals for the Crew to take their squad to the semifinals. In the semifinal game against the Chicago Fire, the Crew went down 1-0 after their former player Brian McBride scored. Barros Schelotto found Chad Marshall for a headed goal as the Crew’s two best players united to equalize the score. Eddie Gaven was able to hit the back of the net for the decisive goal, advancing the Crew to their first ever MLS Cup Finals.

Columbus faced the New York Red Bulls in the cup final, and going into the game the Crew were favorites. The Black and Gold had the best record in the MLS, and the New York Red Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs until the last game of the season. Despite their records, the Red Bulls began the match with more chances. However, the Crew settled down, and in the 31st minute Alejandro Moreno sliced the ball across goal and made the score 1-0 for the Crew. Then, another former Crew player scored against Columbus, as John Wolyniec leveled the score for the Red Bulls at 1-1. The tie was short lived as Chad Marshall’s headed goal put the Crew ahead once again. Schelotto made a sublime pass to Frankie Hejduk as he put home the third goal and sealed Columbus’s first MLS Cup.