Columbus vs. Colorado: What each team needs to do to win it

<strong><br></strong><img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/columbus_150.png" alt="" width="100" height="100">

<img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" alt="" width="100" height="100">

<strong>What the Crew need to do</strong><strong><br></strong>

<strong>What the Rapids need to do</strong><strong><br></strong>

<em><strong>Beware Cummings and Casey</strong>. Columbus did a decent job of keeping tabs on Colorado’s tremendous tandem, but the threat of two strikers that combined for 27 goals during the regular season remains. Make sure that, if you get beat, someone else is responsible.</em>

<em><strong>Play Like Winners. </strong>Colorado lead the Crew 1-0. So what if the Crew played better in the second half? Colorado have their fate in their hands, and shouldn’t let the pundits tell them differently.</em>

<em><strong>Defense Wins Games</strong>. <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/armchair-analyst-breaking-down-first-leg-between-rapids-and-crew">As MLSsoccer.com’s Armchair Analyst Matthew Doyle pointed out</a>, dropping Shaun Francis into a more defensive role helped spring the Crew on the counterattack. They have speed in Eddie Gaven, Robbie Rogers and Frankie Hejduk. Hang tough on defense, then break out towards Colorado’s net.</em>

<em><p><strong>Get Mastroeni Forward</strong>. Colorado’s captain was doing it all in the first leg, and was rewarded with a goal. Mastroeni is having a breakout season, and could be the difference.</p></em>

<em><strong>Smell the Home Cooking. </strong>Anyone who thinks that the Nordecke in Crew Stadium won’t be rocking out has clearly never watched a Crew home game. Use the crowd support to your advantage and come out with purpose.</em>

<em><strong>Test Gruenebaum</strong>. This is his first rodeo in the playoffs, but Colorado only managed to get two of their 15 shots on target. Don’t allow the Hebrew Hammer to look good against you; make him earn his money.</em>