The Red Bulls will travel to the Columbus Crew for the first leg of the Audi 2014 MMLS Cup Playoff Eastern Conference Championship on Sunday, November 22. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN. Both teams are seeking their second appearance in MLS Cup.
Here are some numbers to know ahead of Sunday’s matchup:
2: These two teams have only met twice in the postseason, neither of which was in the Eastern Conference Championships. In 1998 the Metrostars fell to Columbus in the Eastern Conference Semifinals and in 2008 the Red Bulls fell again, in both teams’ first and only appearances to date in the MLS Cup Final.
3: There were 3 goals in all 3 meetings between these two teams in the regular season, with a 2-1 score line each time (in favor of New York twice, Columbus once). Kei Kamara scored none of those goals.
7: The Red Bulls have not failed to score against Columbus since 7 matches ago, on August 10, 2013. They have also not failed to score in a postseason match since November 8, 2012, and have not failed to score this season – regular and postseason combined – since May 24.
11: The Red Bulls have won 11 games at Mapfre Stadium in the regular and postseason combined, tying 4 and losing 12. Their only postseason matchup there, MLS Cup 2008, was one of those losses.
13: Matt Miazga’s 13 aerials won against Columbus Crew in the regular season are the second-most by any Red Bulls player against any team (after Miazga’s 24 won against D.C. United).
27: The Red Bulls have scored 27 away goals this season, the most of any MLS team. On the other hand, Columbus has conceded 25 goals at home this season, the second-most of any MLS team (behind NYCFC’s 31). It’s likely that the Red Bulls will return home with some away goals in the bank.
33.3: The Red Bulls have advanced past the Eastern Conference Championship 33% of the times they’ve featured (after 1 of the 3 Championship series), whereas Columbus has only advanced 20% of the time (after 1 of 5 series).
50: When the Red Bulls have played the first leg of an Eastern Conference Championship series away, they’ve won that first leg 50% of the time (loss in 2000, win in 2008). Overall, they’ve won 33% of Eastern Conference Championship first legs (loss at home, 2014).
75: All 5 of the Red Bulls midfield post above a 75% passing accuracy against Columbus (Lloyd Sam: 87%; Dax: 86%; Felipe: 81%; Grella: 78%; Kljestan: 78%).
99: Red Bulls #99 Bradley Wright-Phillips, who scored the last-minute winner to close out the semifinal series against D.C. United, has scored in one leg, but never both, of every postseason series he’s played in. That goal has come in the first leg 50% of the time (excluding the one-round knockout game against Sporting KC in 2014), but never when that first leg was away. He’s saving it for you, South Ward.
