Back from the international break, the Columbus Crew plays its final regular-season home match on Saturday night when the Club welcomes the New York Red Bulls to Lower.com Field.
Three Things to Know
8 – With three games remaining in the regular season, the Crew enters Saturday night eighth in the Eastern Conference standings – one spot below the playoff line. Both Columbus and seventh-place Inter Miami CF are tied with 42 points apiece, but Miami owns the tiebreaker: three more wins. While each Black & Gold match has felt like “must win” the past few games, the squad is entering the pivotal point of the season. Including Saturday night, the Crew can earn a maximum of nine points over the final three matches – and could potentially need help from elsewhere. “This has been a good couple of weeks,” head coach Caleb Porter said of the recent break. “We needed a little time to get over that (Portland Timbers draw). Sometimes you have a break and you don’t want it, but I think this was good timing. The guys this week really look locked in and ready. We know now where we’re at, and obviously as the season unwinds, every game becomes more and more important when it’s tight like this.”
7 – Saturday night will be a record-setting occasion for the Black & Gold, who will set a new club record with the team’s seventh sellout of 2022. Tickets are still available – and they’re standing room only. The final home match of the regular season is Fan Appreciation Night, presented by EASE Logistics, and will include a free pair of Crew sunglasses for the first 15,000 fans through the gates. Season Ticket Members will receive a 20% discount in Club Shop while all fans attending will be able to enjoy a $2 discount all beverages – both alcoholic (for fans 21+) and non-alcoholic. A full rundown of Fan Appreciation Day is available for more information. “We know this is our last regular-season home game and could be our last game, most likely with us having road games in the playoffs,” Porter said. “So, we want to send our supporters out on a positive.”
3 – Saturday’s match has important implications for New York, too. The Red Bulls sit third in the Eastern Conference standings and have already clinched a spot in the postseason. While there’s bragging rights to stay about New York City FC (there’s a one-point difference), the Red Bulls are also trying to solidify home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They lost, 2-0, in their last match against NYCFC before the break, so they’ll be looking to regain momentum in their penultimate regular season game.
When They Last Met
The last meeting on March 20 was a last-minute thriller, as the Crew and Red Bulls played to a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena. Tom Barlow gave the home side the lead in the 84th minute, but Darlington Nagbe produced the equalizer in the 95th minute to keep Columbus unbeaten through its first four matches of 2022.
Match Overview
Match Overview
What: Fan Appreciation Night, presented by EASE Logistics
When: Saturday, Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Lower.com Field
Tickets: Click here to purchase
How to Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ (Out of Market)
How to Listen: 97.1 The Fan
Current Standings: Columbus Crew – Eighth in Eastern Conference; New York Red Bulls – Third in Eastern Conference
Bring your crew
Secure your seat to cheer on the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field this season!
