COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Max Alfsten had a goal and two assists, Dylan Schambost scored a first-half goal and the Columbus Crew avoided elimination in the MLS Cup playoffs, defeating FC Cincinnati 4-0 in Game 2 of a best-of-three first-round series on Sunday night.
The series returns to TQL Stadium, where Cincinnati won the opening game. 1-0heading into Game 3 on Saturday. The winner advances to a one-game Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with either No. 3 seed Miami or No. 6 seed Nashville.
Jacen Russell Rowe, who replaced Diego Rossi in the 61st minute, set up a goal for Andres Herrera in the 65th minute and added his first career playoff goal in the 69th minute.
Alfsten scored the first goal in the 33rd minute. On the counter-attack, Rossi received a loose ball from defender Albus Powell 18 yards in front of the box and slotted it into Alfsten on the left side of the area. The 24-year-old midfielder scored the third goal of his playoff career, cutting wide to evade goalkeeper Roman Celantano, who was charging from his line, and firing a shot into the top net from the corner of the six-yard box.
Yuya Kubo was shown a yellow card in the 7th minute, followed by another in the 38th minute, and second-seeded Cincinnati played the rest of the game alone.
Chambost had a shot saved by Celentano in the 7th minute, and then took the ensuing free kick from outside the top right corner of the box and inside the near post to make it 2-0 in the 41st minute.
The seventh-seeded Crew defeated Cincinnati 19-1.
Columbus defender Rudy Camacho, who was sidelined with a thigh injury, made his season debut as a substitute in the 81st minute.
Celentano, who finished with five saves, leaped over and smashed Taja Habrune’s cross, but Hugo Picard accidentally kicked him in the head in the third minute. Celentano was diagnosed with a head injury and was cleared to participate in the match.
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