Columbus Crew's Unexpected Exit in Playoffs Shocks MLS Fans

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00:00Let's just get started with MLS because I know you want to talk MLS, that's your cup

00:07of tea.

00:08But let's start with Columbus, man.

00:10The exit was very surprising because they pretty much won it all throughout the last

00:15few months.

00:16They defeated LAFC, as you well know, in that MLS Cup Final that hurt a lot of people.

00:21And it just seemed that those guys were up in the rise, they're done.

00:25They're gone.

00:26It's, man, I'm shocked, you know, everybody's shocked.

00:29I think that if you follow MLS, one of the teams that was a strong candidate to be a

00:36champion again was Columbus Crew.

00:38And the fact that the New York Red Bulls in three games were able to eliminate them in

00:42penalty kicks in the last game just shocked the MLS world.

00:46I think that the style of play that they have, the players that they have, I mean, literally

00:52the team was very strong, but again, the New York Red Bulls gave everything that they

00:57had.

00:58They believed in themselves.

00:59I mean, the goalie, the Paraguayan, and the penalty kicks was phenomenal, phenomenal.

01:05And now you see, and I've said, that can happen to more teams if they don't get their act

01:09together.

01:10You know what, we were talking about this off the air.

01:13I was in Jersey for one of the first weeks of the season, calling the game there, and

01:17it was a home opener for Jersey.

01:18It was raining, it was cold, but seeing fans at like 30 degrees without their shirts and

01:24just chanting and screaming under the rain, it gave me a vibe that this team, and it's

01:29not only the team, and Luis Morgan, my God, he's a leader, he's a superstar, and he's

01:34one of those guys that very, very well hidden under the Messis and the Buangas, et cetera,

01:39he can be one of the stars in the playoffs.

01:41But this team has a great squad, great vibe in the stands, and they can't go far.

01:46Now, let's go into Atlanta United.

01:48How about that matchup against Inter-Miami?

01:51We said in the show before, they have nothing to lose, but the way they won that game against

01:56Montreal, that advance to the main playoff round or the best of three, we thought, well,

02:02Atlanta, they might be more motivated.

02:04The exit of Gonzo Pineda brought a lot of doubts, but it seems that they're here to

02:08fight now.

02:09I mean, with a goalkeeper like Brad Gustin, with all the experience that he has, I mean,

02:13you saw the game, even in Miami, Miami struggled to beat them.

02:17Everybody thought there was going to be a piece of cake for Miami because, I mean, they

02:20have amazing players.

02:22But I think that they're going to play the third game.

02:25I think that if you and I will talk about this before the playoffs, we'll say Miami

02:28in two games for sure, because of what you just mentioned.

02:32But Atlanta United can surprise, again, the MLS world, and they've been playing pretty

02:37good.

02:39They're not afraid of facing Messi and Suarez and all them.

02:44I think that Miami is going to go home early.

02:47And as we go into Orlando and Charlotte, one great thing to remember about this best of

02:52three series, it doesn't matter how many goals you score or allow in each game.

02:57You have to win the game.

02:58It doesn't matter.

02:59And going into Orlando and Charlotte, Orlando showing some flashes of brilliance in game

03:03one, but they struggled in game two against Charlotte.

03:07What are your thoughts in this series?

03:10For me, I think Orlando has the advantage to advance.

03:14But again, it's football, it's soccer.

03:17And Charlotte, I mean, I'm just surprised by what's going on with MLS, man.

03:21Like, honestly, I think it was going to be like an easier first round for all the teams

03:25that we thought were the top teams.

03:27And I mean, and this one, I think it's more, it's more like equal for more balance.

03:36I want Orlando to advance because I want them to eliminate Miami.

03:39Well, one thing that I can tell you, our good friend, former Chivas goalie, Martin Pulposuñiga,

03:44as always, every time we don't broadcast together, he's talking about Charlotte's goalie, Kalina.

03:49And he could very well be the top goalie this season.

03:52He's been incredible for Charlotte.

03:54Finally, a game, a series you really wanted to discuss, I'm sure.

03:58Game three between LAFC and Vancouver.

04:00Last year, LAFC gave Vancouver no choice.

04:03They could not even get their hands dirty.

04:05I mean, Vancouver, that first game ended up five to two.

04:08Then they went to Vancouver, won the game.

04:11I can tell you, I remember that because I was assigned the whole series, but I can only

04:14do two games.

04:15So LAFC took care of business, no problem.

04:18This year could be different.

04:19Why has it been different for Vancouver?

04:22Because I mean, the coaches they have, man, he inspires everybody.

04:25I mean, even seeing him, even us, even me as an LAFC supporter.

04:30But let me tell you something, man, LAFC, they need to come out on Friday and they need

04:34to set a statement for the league and say, you know what, we're a top contender.

04:39We want this cup because it's right there, it's right there.

04:43But in front of them, they have a Vancouver that they have nothing to lose, that they

04:46come out and they play with a lot of heart.

04:48And sometimes the football heart can take you to farther places more than if you have

04:55better players.

04:56Yeah.

04:57And I think for Vancouver, then again, you talk about Manny Sartini, I think you hit

05:01it right on the spot.

05:02But this guy will make you believe that you are right on top.

05:05And I think his attitude has been golden for Vancouver so far.

05:09So let's see what Ryan Gold, Brian White, and those guys can do against the powerful

05:13black and gold.

05:15Another powerful team that's struggling to make it to the next round, FC Cincinnati.

05:18I mean, we've talked about Lucho Acosta, former MVP, about the great environment in that stadium.

05:24And Cincinnati has really embraced Major League Soccer.

05:27And I'm sure you as a big supporter, I'm sure are happy to see what's happening in places

05:32like Charlotte, like Cincinnati, new franchises.

05:35But Cincinnati's struggling to make it, man.

05:37And who's in NYC FC, New York City, has a shot for game three.

05:42100%.

05:43I think New York City are playing really, really good football.

05:46I think that Cincinnati, for some reason, they didn't close the season the way they

05:53wanted to.

05:55We can see that in these matches between them.

05:58And for me, I don't know how to say my picks right now, but I'll tell you later.

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