COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Crew’s season came to a premature end as they were knocked out of the MLS Cup playoffs on Sunday night in the first round.
As the two-seed, the Crew was favored to oust the seven-seeded New York Red Bulls in a best-of-three series. Instead, the Red Bulls won Game 1 at Lower.com Field 1-0 and closed the series with a penalty shootout win at home in Game 2 after a 2-2 tie.
Despite the disappointing playoff appearance, 2024 will be looked at fondly as an unforgettable season that required stamina. Here are some takeaways about 2024 and what to look for in 2025.
Best season in club history
2024 as a whole was the best season in the 28-year history of the Crew, even if they didn’t defend its MLS Cup. After its 2023 championship run, Columbus was awarded ample opportunities to win trophies. Outside of the MLS Cup playoffs, it won or got to the final in every other competition this season.
It started in March with a run in the CONCACAF Champions Cup that included the upset victories over Mexican clubs Tigres and Monterrey to get to the final. Luck ran out when the Crew lost to Pachuca in the final 3-0, with several team members falling ill before the game. Despite the silver medal, the Crew topped the CONCACAF coefficient rankings for most of 2024.
As it was running through the MLS regular season, Columbus entered the Leagues Cup and passed through a gantlet to win the tournament. To take its first knockout-style tournament trophy since 2002, it had a thrilling win over Inter Miami and a signature last-minute title winning goal from Cucho Hernandez in the final against Los Angeles FC.
It also fell on penalties in the Campeones Cup final to Club America on penalty kicks before completing its best MLS regular season. The Crew set club records for points, wins, and goals in a season.
Ran out of gas amidst busy schedule
All that success came at the cost of making another run at MLS Cup as the Crew embarked on their biggest schedule. Because of the runs in the Champions Cup and Leagues Cup, they played the maximum amount of games in those tournaments and entered the MLS Cup playoffs after 47 games.
The rush of games caused coach Wilfried Nancy to rotate the squad and for players to miss out on key games because of injury. In game 48, the 1-0 loss to the Red Bulls, high-scoring winger Diego Rossi sat out. In that playoff loss and the one on Sunday, the defense had small lapses of energy that led to New York’s three goals.
The Crew attempted something most European teams do every season by juggling multiple competitions all year while balancing injuries, international duty and more. The energy just barely ran out for the playoffs, and this ending will be a learning opportunity for Nancy and company.
What’s coming in 2025
The Crew could play the same amount of games and more next season as they will again play in the Champions Cup and Leagues Cup. For a second straight season, the Crew earned a bye to the Champions Cup round of 16 thanks to its Leagues Cup championship. Those games begin in March.
Defending the Leagues Cup will require more games with no bye into the round of 32, requiring the Crew to play two group stage games in midsummer. One variable is the U.S. Open Cup tournament, which will depend on how MLS decides to approach adding its teams in.
Changes are likely coming in the offseason, and one thing Crew fans will hope to avoid is a third straight season of a big money outgoing transfer. In 2023, it was Lucas Zelarayan. In 2024, it was Aidan Morris. In 2025, it could be Cucho Hernandez.
Hernandez, the MLS MVP candidate and a former Premier League striker, had 25 goals in all competitions and has caught the eyes of clubs across the globe, meaning the Crew could get an offer they can’t refuse. Fans will want to see Hernandez sign an extension soon for that security.
