Columbus advances to East semis by beating New York Red Bulls

The Columbus Crew advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Columbus conceded the opening goal to Caden Clark in the 23rd minute but Pedro Santos, Darlington Nagbe, and Gyasi Zardes all found the net to complete the comeback.

The Crew didn't wait long to assert their dominance after the interval when Nagbe gave the hosts a 2-1 advantage just 23 seconds into the second half.

Columbus parlayed that momentum into an eventual match-winner when Zardes made it 3-1 in the 68th minute with a looping header at the far post off a deep Derrick Etienne cross.

A late flurry from New York made for a frenetic ending. Brian White hit a low strike to draw the Red Bulls within a goal in the last minute of normal time before Tom Barlow nearly potted a 93rd-minute equalizer.

Caleb Porter's team will now face either Toronto FC or Nashville SC on Nov. 29.