Columbus Crew Snags Final Eastern Playoff Slot With 2-0 Win
Santiago Rodríguez scored twice as the Crew defeated FC Dallas to secure the ninth and final spot in the Eastern Conference.
By Arjun Shah ·
Columbus Crew fans can now lock in their postseason plans. The team clinched the final available playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas on Wednesday night.
The win marks the fourth consecutive victory for Columbus. Their record stands at 12 wins, 15 losses, and 5 draws. With two matches left in the regular season, the Crew holds the ninth and final berth in the East. The win also improved their road record to 4-9-3.
Gonzalo Tapia broke the deadlock in the 18th minute. Anass Zaroury provided the first assist of his league career, followed by a setup from Santiago Rodríguez. Tapia has now scored in three straight matches, his third goal in his first nine MLS appearances.
Rodríguez added the second goal in the 70th minute. It was his third of the campaign in 10 appearances. The goal extended his season total to seven assists. Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made seven saves to record his seventh clean sheet in 32 starts.
FC Dallas, already safe in the Western Conference, dropped its home record to 8-3-5. The loss was only its second in the last 11 matches. Daniel De Sousa Britto made one save for Dallas. Both teams return to action on Saturday, with Columbus hosting D.C. United and Dallas visiting Sporting Kansas City.
Source: KXAS-TV
