Daniel Gazdag scored the go-ahead goal as the Columbus Crew defeated the visiting New York Red Bulls 3-1 on Saturday in the regular-season finale to avoid the Eastern Conference wild-card play-in match.

Gazdag put the Crew (14-8-12, 54 points) ahead in the 66th minute and Ibrahim Aliyu added an insurance goal in the 84th as the Crew halted a four-match winless streak and won at home for the first time since July 19.

The Crew entered the match in ninth with the possibility of having to play in the knockout match on Wednesday. Instead, with Chicago tying New England and Orlando City losing to Toronto FC, Columbus finished seventh and will face FC Cincinnati in a first-round best-of-three series.

Gazdag scored with an assist by Taha Habroune, who used the outside of his right foot to flick

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