HARRISON, N.J. (November 29, 2015) - The New York Red Bulls were eliminated from the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs after falling to Columbus Crew SC, 2-1 on aggregate, in the Eastern Conference Championship. New York took the second leg, 1-0, on Sunday night at Red Bull Arena with a late goal from Anatole Abang, but fell in the series, as Crew SC entered with a 2-0 lead after last weekend's first leg at Columbus.
New York launched 17 shots toward the Columbus net, but could not break through until stoppage time, when Abang scored to give the Red Bulls new life in the 93rd minute. The Cameroonian out-jumped Crew SC 'keeper Steve Clark to direct a high ball off the foot of Lloyd Sam into the back of the net. New York charged forward after the goal, and a header from Bradley Wright-Phillips rang squarely off the goal post.
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Columbus came out pressing for an away goal, and Luis Robles made two big saves early to keep New York in the series. Robles charged out and made a diving block to stop a threat in the third minute, and stopped Kei Kamara in the eighth minute on a Crew SC break.
Robles, who was named to the MLS Best XI earlier on Sunday, was credited with five saves in the contest. Robles recorded his third clean sheet of the 2015 postseason on Sunday night, and finishes the playoff run as the club's all-time leader in playoff wins (5) and playoff shutouts (4).
The run to a second consecutive Eastern Conference Championship series caps off one of the best regular seasons in New York history, with the club setting new franchise records for wins (18) and home wins (12). New York won a second Supporters' Shield in the last three seasons with an 18-10-6 record and the league's best goal differential (+19).