It is do-or-die time now for the Columbus Crew, who are looking to turn a great season into a legendary season, but they cannot slip up again as they travel to Red Bull Arena to face the New York Red Bulls for the third match in a row and the second in their playoff series. Columbus was dealing with a number of injuries last match, but the only player on the injury report this match is defender Malte Amundsen. The Crew will have a boost with the return of forward Diego Rossi.

Here is how the Black & Gold may lineup:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte was beaten on a scrum of a corner kick. The Crew need to get better control of the penalty box on set pieces as the Red Bulls did not generate a ton of danger outside of that, besides a late chance after Columbus committed everyone forward. 

With Amundsen out, there is a clear starting three center backs, defenders Rudy Camacho, Yevhen Cheberko, and Steven Moreira. The Black & Gold were pinned back in their own half under the high press of New York, and while there were no disastrous giveaways, Columbus had issues connecting to the attacking players from building out of the back. 

Wingback Mo Farsi will start again in this match, with Max Arfsten beginning on the bench for this match. He has not been able to produce as much against the Red Bulls, expect wingback Dejuan Jones to get the starting role in this match. Captain Darlington Nagbe will start in this match alongside midfielder Dylan Chambost. Columbus had issues connecting the attack and the defense, and the midfielders are the key to that. Midfielder Sean Zawadzki had a long layoff due to his injury, and Chambost showed more promise in the attack. Rossi will return to the forward three, which will be a huge boon for the Crew.

There were a few moments of long passes forward that Rossi would have chased down and allowed for the other forwards to take up their normal attacking runs. Forward Cucho Hernandez will start alongside Rossi and they will be joined by midfielder AZ Jackson. Jackson provided a spark in the last match, and forward Christian Ramirez has shown he can make a difference off the bench, especially when a crossing specialist like Arfsten comes on alongside him.