You can never count out the Capybaras.
Columbus Crew 2 are back in the Eastern Conference final for the fourth time. Crew 2 took down top-seeded Crown Legacy FC last time out, and now faces a similarly formidable opponent on the road at Chattanooga FC (5 PM ET Sunday, Nov. 1).
Season series
Crew 2 fell 2-0 to CFC around the beginning of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season, on March 28.
Player spotlight
Best XI selection and MVP contender Kevin Gbamblé is the straw that stirs Crew 2's drink. With 12g/11 a in over 2,000 minutes played, Gbamblé will be looked to for continued leadership and production come playoff time.
Striker Chase Adams is coming off his second 10-goal season in a row. Jamil Danjaji, a 16-year-old Crew Academy attacker, is also on the rise as one of the top young prospects in the league.
Playoff narrative
Crew 2 may have finished fourth in the Eastern Conference this regular season, but everything seems equal now. Crew 2's arrival to another East final underlines the club's enduring excellence, and the importance of experience in the playoffs.
However, Crew 2 has a tall task coming into Finley Stadium to face a hot CFC team. Gbamblé, Adams, and Co. must keep pace with CFC's attack, and Finley Stadium has proven to be the most difficult place to win in the league.
