The New York Red Bulls eliminated reigning MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew in a dramatic penalty shootout, clinching a 5-4 victory after a 2-2 draw in regular time. This win secured New York’s 2-0 series sweep in their best-of-three first-round matchup. They now await the winner of the Cincinnati vs. New York City FC series, currently tied 1-1, with the decisive game three scheduled for next Saturday.
Columbus took a 55th-minute lead through Max Arfsten, but New York responded quickly as Dante Vanzeir equalized just nine minutes later. Emil Forsberg then converted a penalty in the 80th minute to put New York ahead. However, Columbus struck back with a stoppage-time header from Christian Ramirez, sending the match to penalties. Red Bulls’ goalkeeper Carlos Coronel saved three consecutive penalties, and Daniel Edelman scored the decisive spot-kick to advance the seventh-seeded Red Bulls.
In the Western Conference, the Seattle Sounders also advanced after a tense 7-6 penalty shootout against Houston Dynamo following a 1-1 draw. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a crucial save against Tate Schmitt, securing Seattle’s 2-0 series victory. Seattle now awaits their semi-final opponent, either top-seeded LAFC or eighth-seeded Vancouver Whitecaps.
Vancouver forced a game three in their series with a 3-0 win over LAFC, benefiting from early goals by Ryan Gould and a Ryan Hollingshead own-goal. Another own-goal by Eddie Segura in the 68th minute sealed LAFC’s defeat, pushing the series to a decisive third game.
