COLUMBUS – The Crew SC has the inside track on its path toward a return to the MLS Cup Finals when Columbus travels to Toronto Wednesday night for the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals (7:30 p.m./FS1).
In the first leg, at MAPFRE Stadium on Nov. 21, the Crew and Toronto FC played to a 0-0 draw, so Columbus can clinch a spot in the MLS Cup with a win or a draw by a score of 1-1 or higher because the MLS uses goals scored away from home as the tiebreaker.
If Columbus wins the Eastern Conference Championship, it would mark the third time in club history the Crew has reached MLS Cup. Columbus advanced to the finals in 2008 and 2015 and won the cup in 2008. Columbus would host MLS Cup for the second time in club history, having previously hosted the 2015 edition.
The Crew has lost only once in its last 14 matches, posting a record of 7-1-6 since a 3-1 regular-season win against the Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium on August 12.