Playoffs-bound Crew top Red Bulls 3-1 to finish 7th in Eastern Conference

"COLUMBUS, Ohio - Dániel Gazdag and Ibrahim Aliyu scored in the second half, Max Arfsten had two assists and the Columbus Crew defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-1 on Saturday to close out the regular season. Columbus (14-8-12) wraps up seventh place in the Eastern Conference with the victory, avoiding the wild-card round. Gazdag used assists from Taha Habroune and Max Arfsten to score his fourth goal of the season and give Columbus a 2-1 lead in the 66th minute."

"Habroune's helper was his second in 18 appearances this season and 23 overall. Arfsten notched his eighth assist, matching his career-high set last season. Aliyu subbed into the match in the 82nd minute and scored unassisted two minutes later for a two-goal advantage. It was Aliyu's third goal in 23 appearances with the Crew this season after failing to score in eight appearances with the Houston Dynamo to begin the season."

"Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting used assists from Emil Forsberg and Gustav Berggren to score his 17th goal in his first season in the league and give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Forsberg finished with career highs of 11 goals and 11 assists in his second season. Berggren's assist was his first in his sixth career appearance. Defender Andrés Herrera scored the equalizer for Columbus five minutes later with his career-high fourth goal in his 20th appearance this season and 30th over two seasons. Lassi Lappalainen and Arfsten had assists. It was Lappalainen's fourth of the season."

Columbus Crew beat the New York Red Bulls 3-1 to close the regular season and secure seventh place in the Eastern Conference, avoiding the wild-card round. Dániel Gazdag scored in the 66th minute on assists from Taha Habroune and Max Arfsten to put Columbus ahead. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting opened scoring for the Red Bulls in the 11th minute on assists from Emil Forsberg and Gustav Berggren, and Andrs Herrera equalized five minutes later. Ibrahim Aliyu came on in the 82nd minute and scored two minutes later to extend the lead. Patrick Schulte made two saves; John McCarthy stopped three.

Read at Newsday