The MLS Multiplex on the FanSided Network continues its series of reflections on the past 19 MLS Cup finals leading to the 2015 Major League Soccer season, the 20th season of the competition. In this segment, we take a look back at the 2008 MLS Cup final between the New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew.
A year after Toronto FC entered the league as the first Canadian MLS club, the San Jose Earthquakes returned to play as an expansion franchise in the MLS Western Conference in 2008. Three new teams entered shirt sponsorship deals: the Chicago Fire (Best Buy), Columbus (Glidden), and D.C. United (Volkswagen). The Los Angeles Galaxy would be going through their biggest year of transition, with three managers in one year.
The Kansas City Wizards would undergo a transformation into Sporting Kansas City, temporarily occupying CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. before moving into Sporting Park in 2011. And in Sandy, Utah, Rio Tinto Stadium was erected to house Real Salt Lake.
Sigi Schmid was the manager of the Columbus Crew in 2008. The Crew were led by Designated Player Guillermo Barros Schelotto but also featured other well-known faces. Columbus featured Philadelphia Union commentator Alejandro Moreno; current Los Angeles Galaxy defender Robbie Rogers; current Seattle Sounders bookends Brad Evans and Chad Marshall; Steven Lenhart, who would become a polarizing figure in league circles after joining the San Jose Earthquakes; and one of the enduring faces of the Crew: the hype man, right back Frankie Hejduk. The Crew ended the regular season with a record of 17-7-6 (57 points), giving them the MLS Supporters’ Shield.
Columbus began the postseason with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the first leg in Kansas City, Lenhart scored in the second minute of extra time to salvage a 1-1 draw. In the second leg at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, goals from Evans (7′) and Rogers (57′) paced the Crew to a 2-0 shutout win. In the Eastern Conference Championship at home, goals from Marshall (49′) and Eddie Gaven (55′) gave Columbus a 2-1 win over Brian McBride and the Chicago Fire.
The New York Red Bulls, then under Juan Carlos Osorio, had the honor of being placed in the MLS Western Conference playoff bracket because only three teams from the West qualified for the postseason. New York were led by Designated Player Juan Pablo Angel and also featured Carlos Mendes and Dane Richards. The Red Bulls finished the regular season 10-11-9 (39 points), good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
New York opened their postseason run with a 4-1 smashing of the Houston Dynamo in the Western Conference Finals. Angel scored in the 48th minute of the first leg at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. for a 1-1 draw. The second leg at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Tex. was all Red Bulls. Richards (25′), Angel (36′) and John Wolyniec (81′) scored in New York’s 3-0 shutout victory over the Dynamo. In the Western Conference Championship at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, a 28th minute goal from Dave van den Bergh gave the Red Bulls a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake.
MLS Cup 2008 took place on Nov. 23, 2008 at StubHub Center (then known as the Home Depot Center) in Carson, Calif. The Crew wiped out the Red Bulls 3-1 for their first-ever MLS Cup. Moreno (31′), Marshall (53′) and Hejduk (82′) secured a MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield double for Columbus. New York’s only goal came in the 51st minute by Wolyniec.