The only way the ninth-place Columbus Crew can avoid being on the road for the Eastern Conference play-in match is to defeat the visiting New York Red Bulls on Saturday and get help elsewhere.

If that’s not enough incentive for the Crew (13-8-12, 51 points), the match could be the final at home for four-time MLS Cup champion Darlington Nagbe.

The midfielder who is considered one of the best to ever play the position in MLS, announced last week that he will end his 15-year career at the conclusion of the playoffs. After winning an NCAA championship at Akron, he won titles for the Portland Timbers (2015), Atlanta United (2018) and the Crew (2020 and 2023).

“For the first time in my career when someone has retired from my team, I really thought, ‘OK, damn, I was proud to have played with this guy,'” Crew defender Malte Amundsen said. “Not to take anything away from anyone else, but Darlington really stood out to me. That’s the best way I can describe it.”

The Crew can finish as high as seventh and earn a spot in a first-round best-of-three playoff series if they win, Orlando City loses to Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire either tie or lose to the New England Revolution.

Meanwhile, the Red Bulls (12-14-7, 43 points) can be a spoiler. They will finish 10th, ending their 15-year postseason streak, but coach Sandro Schwarz said he would not use the finale as a tryout for next season’s team.

“We have a responsibility to give our respect for the competition, for the league,” he said. “Of course, maybe we’ll have some changes, but it is not now the reason, ‘OK, we give another player a chance only to see how he looks and how he is playing.'”

No matter the result, the night belongs to Nagbe, who will be honored at a postgame ceremony.

“I’m confident in what I’ve done,” he said. “Happy with what I’ve done, and I do believe I’ve been one of the best players to play in this league.”

–Field Level Media