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MLS Cup Playoff Round One: New York Red Bulls Facing Columbus Crew
**Playoff Match to Feature Eastern Conference Rivals
The Eastern Conference's New York Red Bulls will face the Columbus Crew in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs this weekend. The winner will advance to the conference semifinals, while the loser will see their season come to an end.
The Red Bulls finished the regular season with a 22-7-5 record, good for second place in the conference. They were one of the most dominant teams in the league all season, and they will be looking to continue their strong play in the playoffs.
The Crew finished the regular season with a 17-10-7 record, good for fourth place in the conference. They are a bit of a surprise team, but they have been playing well lately and they will be a tough opponent for the Red Bulls.
Keys to the Match
There are a few key factors that will likely determine the outcome of this match.
- Set pieces: Both teams are very good at set pieces, so this could be a key area of the match. The Red Bulls have one of the best set-piece takers in the league in Kaku, while the Crew have a number of dangerous players who can score from set pieces, including Lucas Zelarayán and Pedro Santos.
- Midfield battle: The midfield battle will be another key area of the match. The Red Bulls have a strong midfield led by Cristian Cásseres Jr. and Daniel Edelman, while the Crew have a physical midfield led by Darlington Nagbe and Artur.
- Home-field advantage: The Red Bulls will have home-field advantage in this match, which could give them a slight edge. They have been very good at home all season, and they will be looking to continue that strong play in the playoffs.
Prediction
This is a tough match to predict, but I think the Red Bulls will win 2-1. They are the more dominant team, and they have home-field advantage. The Crew are a tough team, but I don't think they have enough to beat the Red Bulls.
