Columbus steamrolls D.C. United, books 1st-round playoff bye
The Columbus Crew are going to be involved in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. But first, Kei Kamara, Federico Higuain and company will kick up their feet and watch as two other teams fight for the right to visit MAPFRE Stadium in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Crew, without the suspended Kamara, obliterated D.C. United 5-0 on the final day of the MLS regular season. In doing so, they leapfrogged the capital-based club into second place in the Eastern Conference, thereby securing a bye through to the second round of the postseason.
FINAL: #CrewSC defeats D.C. 5-0 & clinches second place in the East. Conference semis, here we come!!! #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/kZLo9Z922N
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) October 25, 2015
Ethan Finley netted a brace, while the Crew also got goals from Jack McInerney, Justin Meram, and Aaron Schoenfeld to claim the commanding victory, and in the process force D.C. United into the postseason's dreaded knockout round.
Perhaps we should have seen this coming ...
9 - D.C. United has scored a @MLS-low nine road goals this season. Barren.
— OptaJack (@OptaJack) October 25, 2015
By virtue of the loss, D.C. United slides down to fourth in the Eastern Conference, and will host the New England Revolution in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs this coming week.
Related: New England Revolution clinch playoff spot; Orlando City's season ends