Preview: Columbus Crew v. New York Red Bulls

Columbus Crew v. New York Red Bulls
When: 3:30 pm ET, Sunday, November 23
Where: The Home Depot Center, Carson, CA
TV: ABC, TeleFutura, CBC

The Gist: Finally, after twelve years of disappointment, these two teams will take the field in an MLS Cup for the first time. Columbus have come up one game short four times, while New York progressed to a Conference final once, in 2000, which was also the only time before this year they actually won a playoff series.

The Red Bulls have seen their fair share of luck thus far in the playoffs, as they sent Houston and Real Salt Lake packing, but they have advanced nonetheless. Perhaps it is a reversal of years of bad karma in one fell swoop. Amazingly, following a draw at home, New York has won both of their games on the road; they one only once away from home in the regular season.

Defense has been the name of the game -- another surprise -- as they gave up the third most goals in the regular season, but have conceded just one thus far in the playoffs.

Columbus followed a similar route by tying their first playoff game, and then winning their next two. However, their wins came in the friendly confines of Crew Stadium.

Not that the Crew have a problem performing outside Ohio; they were tied with Chicago for the best road record in the regular season. Playing from behind is also not a problem for this confident side as they trailed both Kansas City and the Fire, but bounced back to advance both times.

Sunday will mark the fourth meeting between the two teams this year. Ironically, they opened the season against one another at Giants Stadium, with New York winning. The following two games were split, each winning at home 3-1 with the most recent meeting five weeks ago in a match that saw many Crew regulars taking the night off.

Why You Should Care (other than the fact that it's the final!): One way or another history will be made. Either Columbus or New York will win MLS Cup for the first time. The victorious side will also be the first to hoist the league’s freshly minted Tiffany-designed new MLS Cup trophy. It’s not anything to write home about, but at least it’s a cup.

This year’s Volkswagen MLS MVP, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, leads Columbus. Though the Argentine had not been sharp since suffering a hamstring injury late in the season, he showed his skill last week in assisting on both goals as Columbus saw Chicago off in a come-from-behind 2-1 win. New York’s rookie midfielder Luke Sassano will sit in front of Carlos Mendes and Diego Jiminez in trying to negate the Crew’s key cog, but this trio will struggle to do so.

Jiminez had an outstanding game last week in the Red Bulls’ upset win at Real Salt Lake, giving a boost to a defense that was much maligned during the regular season. Also helping have been the posts, though young keeper Danny Cepero has been making big saves himself in the past two games, both shutouts.

Columbus will control the center of the park where Brian Carroll will take either Sinisa Ubiparipovic (if he recovers from a hamstring injury) or Jorge Rojas out of the game. Carroll’s midfield partner, Brad Evans, has been an unsung hero in these playoffs, and covering acres of ground, the pair allow Schelotto to freelance offensively.

Out wide, one of the two key matchups in the game is New York’s Dave van den Bergh versus Columbus’s Robbie Rogers. The Dutch midfielder can negate the young American’s speed with his veteran guile, while Rogers will have a hard time hindering his opposite number if he only relies on his pasce. On the other flank, Eddie Gaven and Dane Richards offer more potential than substance, though the Jamaican international Richards gives New York an advantage by a small gap thanks to his recent form – and his blazing speed on the counterattack.

For New York to have a chance to end their fans’ seemingly endless suffering, the key is, as ever, Juan Pablo Angel. The Colombian superstar cannot disappear as he did for much of the match in Salt Lake.

However, he faces a tall task in going against MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall. This ultimately is the most important match-up on the day. One crosses, set pieces, and corners, these two will be battling in the air. Whoever wins probably lifts the trophy.

Who’s The Man Right Now?

Columbus: Guillermo Barros Schelotto
For the Crew it begins and ends with their playmaker. He had 19 assists in the regular season and has added several more in the postseason. If the league MVP is given will have time to pick out Rogers and Gaven on the flanks and will test the New York defense with pinpoint free kicks.

New York: Juan Pablo Angel
The first Designated Player to play in an MLS Cup, Angel has to be on his best against a solid Crew defense. The 14-goal scorer will have to take advantage any time Danny O’Rourke, who gave up the most penalty kicks in the league this year, is marking him. If Richards and van den Bergh can create chances for Angel, the league’s best striker (ever?) will take advantage of them.

Prediction: Columbus Crew 2, New York Red Bulls 1

-- Pat Walsh, Goal.com