Nov 3, 2024 - Sports

Crew title defense ends in postseason upset

Andrew King

Cucho Hernandez reacts to a missed goal by putting his face in his hands — Cucho Hernández reacts to a missed shot in the first half of Sunday's match against the New York Red Bulls. Photo: Ira L. Black - Corbis/Getty Images

The Crew's defense of its MLS Cup title ended prematurely Sunday in a loss to the New York Red Bulls on penalty kicks — a surprising upset in the first postseason round.

Why it matters: The star-studded Crew were the league's second-best team in the regular season and expected to challenge for another trophy.

Instead, this unexpected exit might have been the last appearances for some of the team's biggest names.

State of play: New York, with just the 16th-best regular season record, overcame the odds to sweep the best-of-three series.

The big picture: This playoff round was supposed to be the next step for a Crew team enjoying a banner year filled with accolades.

Head coach Wilfried Nancy and striker Cucho Hernández will both draw interest from wealthier teams beyond Major League Soccer, with both mentioned lately in rumors abroad.

What's next: The offseason comes fast in MLS. Contract decisions for most players could be announced within days.

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Crew title defense ends in postseason upset

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