Columbus Crew Shut Out by Red Bulls, Fall Behind 1-0 in MLS Cup First Round

Crew Lose First Leg of Eastern Conference Semifinal at Home

Harsh Red Card Sinks Crew's Hopes

The Columbus Crew's MLS Cup hopes took a major blow on Thursday night as they fell 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal. The Crew were dealt a cruel blow in the 51st minute when defender Vito Wormgoor was sent off for a reckless challenge, leaving his team to play with 10 men for the remaining 39 minutes.

The Red Bulls took advantage of their numerical superiority and grabbed the winning goal in the 63rd minute. Lewis Morgan's cross found Patryk Klimala in the box, and the Polish striker made no mistake with a clinical finish. The Crew tried to find an equalizer but were unable to break down a resolute Red Bulls defense.

The Crew now face an uphill battle to qualify for the Eastern Conference final. They will need to overturn a 1-0 deficit in the second leg at Red Bull Arena next Thursday. The Crew have a poor record in away games this season, winning just four of their 17 matches on the road.

What Went Wrong for the Crew?

The Crew's defeat was largely due to the red card shown to Wormgoor. The Dutch defender was adjudged to have made a dangerous tackle on Red Bulls forward Caden Clark, and referee Chris Penso had no hesitation in sending him off.

The Crew were already struggling to contain the Red Bulls before Wormgoor's dismissal, and his absence made their task even more difficult. The Red Bulls were able to dominate possession and create chances, and it was only a matter of time before they found the winning goal.

The Crew also struggled to create chances of their own. They had just one shot on target in the entire match, and that came in the first half.

Can the Crew Turn Things Around?

The Crew face a difficult task in the second leg, but they are not out of the tie just yet. They have a good record at home, and they will be confident of scoring goals in front of their own fans.

However, the Crew will need to be more clinical in front of goal. They created a number of good chances in the first leg, but they were unable to find the back of the net. If they can be more ruthless in the second leg, they have a chance of overturning the deficit and reaching the Eastern Conference final.

Conclusion

The Crew's defeat to the Red Bulls was a major setback, but they are not out of the tie just yet. They will need to be more clinical in front of goal and avoid any further defensive lapses if they want to reach the Eastern Conference final.