RECAP: Mistakes Cost Red Bulls in Season Finale

Disastrous mistakes in both halves cost New York Red Bulls their final game of 2025 as they lose 3-1 to Columbus Crew SC on Saturday night. The game, played at Lowerdotcom Field, was a celebration of retiring midfielder Darlington Nagbe and the player was able to take one last game over their Eastern Conference rivals.

New York started the game strong as both teams passed through the midfield, creating chances. It was a connection between the designated players Emil Forsberg and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting that opened the scoring in the 11th minute. A flick of the ball from Forsberg unleashed Choupo-Moting who took a shot near the top of the box for the game’s opening goal.

From there Columbus placed the Red Bulls midfield under pressure, forcing key mistakes. Five minutes after falling behind, Max Arfsten and Lassi Lappalainen connected to open the way for Andres Herrera’s equalizer. Mistakes from back-up goalkeeper John McCarthy showed the shaky nature of New York’s defense but they were able to hold it together long enough to make it to halftime with a share of the score.

Those mistakes haunted Red Bulls in the second half as substitute Daniel Gazdag found the back of the net in the 66th minute after a passing combination between Afsten nad Taha Harboune. From there head coach Sandro Schwarz attempted to change the course of the game with substitutes but little shifted other than the momentum in the Crew’s favor. Another mistake from McCarthy in the 83rd minute put the game away, solidifying a rare losing season for New York.

The loss put a sad punctuation on a disappointing season for New York Red Bulls. One year ago, they made a run to MLS Cup but will see themselves on the outside looking in, following a poor run of form in the final months of 2025. Only one win in their last seven games cursed the club to be on the outside of the playoff bubble for the first time since 2009.

STARTING XI:

New York Red Bulls: McCarthy; D. Nealis (75′ Duncan), S. Nealis, Hack, Edwards (59′ Carmona), Edelman, Berggren, Valencia (75′ Bogacz), Gjengaar (59′ Ngoma), Choupo-Moting (75′ Hall), Forsberg

Columbus Crew SC: Schulte; Herrera, Moreira (89′ Ruvalcaba), Amundsen, Arfsten, Chambost (82′ Aliyu), Nagbe, Zawadzki, Picard, Russell-Rowe (61′ Habroune), Lappalainen (46′ Gazdag)

SCORING SUMMARY:
11′ (New York Red Bulls) Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (18) assisted by Emil Forsberg & Gustav Berggren
16′ (Columbus Crew SC) Andres Herrera (5) assisted by Lassi Lapppalainen & Max Arfsten
66′ (Columbus Crew SC) Daniel Gazdag (5) assisted by Taha Habroune & Max Arfsten
83′ (Columbus Crew SC) Ibrahim Aliyu (1) unassisted

DISCIPLINE:
15′ (New York Red Bulls) Daniel Edelman – YELLOW CARD
70′ (New York Red Bulls) Dylan Nealis – YELLOW CARD