RBNY defended from the front, and the engine of was the midfield triangle. The sum of the Dax McCarty, Felipe Martins and Sasha Kljestan trio was the most complimentary and tactically balanced in MLS. Both McCarty and Felipe are able to shoulder possession and tempo duties, but McCarty, being the more tidy and commanding of the two, usually assumed that role.

Offensively, Felipe would structurally balance based on the other points of the triangle, aid in possession, and occasionally creep forward to participate offensively in the final third.

The connection from the middle to final third was Kljestan's responsibility, and he was what made it all tick. Most of the plaudits will go to McCarty, and such praise is well deserved, but Kljestan's lateral presence to form triangles of possession with either flank, ability to turn and drive at defenders, balance for a progressive McCarty or Felipe run, and willingness to apply smart defensive pressure within the system was crucial.

The two recent changes to the RBNY starting XI, different from what was the norm throughout the season, are Ronald Zubar and Sal Zizzo starting in the back four. Although both have seen time in the same positions during the regular season and now in the playoffs, it is not an ideal situation.

When teams have been effective against RBNY they've tended to exploit depth in deep flank spaces. Bombing on with wing-backs who overload the wings and cause RBNY's outside backs to make defensive marking decisions caused problems for 2015 Supporter's Shield winners. Although this is true, both Felipe and McCarty are weak in 1v1, man-marking scenarios. They both can defend in a system, and are aggressive and fit enough to maintain a presence in a high-block press, but if the opposition can place two high midfielders on them, they will struggle to deal with the responsibility.

Columbus Crew SC

Columbus Crew SC has an identity, but only until it reaches the final third.

Gregg Berhalter wants his side to possess the ball in the defensive and middle thirds, with one of his central midfielders to drop in between the central defenders to pick up the ball. As the ball progresses through the possessive phases, Higuain attempts to pivot and pick out deep, wide runs from the wide defenders or midfielders.