COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew SC returns to the postseason for the third time in four seasons, facing Atlanta Thursday in the knockout round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The playoff excitement gave way to protests Sunday as an estimated 2,000 Crew SC fans turned out at Columbus City Hall to voice support for the team and their objections to a proposal to move the team to Austin, Texas after next season, according to a report in the Columbus Dispatch.
Crew SC is set to open the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs on Thursday by traveling to face Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7:00 p.m./UniMas, ESPN 2).
This marks the club’s return to the postseason for the first time since 2015, when Columbus won the Eastern Conference Championship.
Winners of the knockout round advance to the two-legged, aggregate-goal series Eastern Conference semifinals.
In their final regular-season match, CREW SC played to a 2-2 draw with second-seed New York City .