Columbus Crew today defeated the Charleston Battery in the Club’s final contest of the Breeze Airways™ Carolina Challenge Cup held at Patriots Point in Charleston, South Carolina. The Crew scored twice in the first half and once in the second half to defeat the tournament’s hosts.
The Black & Gold took the lead in the ninth minute, when Artur sent a cross into the box which Jonathan Mensah volleyed into the back of the net. Lucas Zelarayan doubled the Crew’s lead in the 27th minute, when he scored from the top of the box to make it 2-0.
Four minutes into the second half, Derrick Etienne Jr. was fouled inside the box, earning a penalty kick which Pedro Santos converted. The Crew controlled the remainder of the match, registering a shutout en route to a 3-0 victory.
Next up, the Black & Gold kick-off the 2022 MLS regular season when they host Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Lower.com Field on Saturday, February 26.
Columbus Crew: Eloy Room; Steven Moreira (Marlon Hairston 79’), Jonathan Mensah (Jalil Anibaba 79’), Josh Williams (Milos Degenek 70’), Pedro Santos; Artur (Aidan Morris 66'), Darlington Nagbe (James Igbekeme 74’); Yaw Yeboah (Luis Diaz 66’), Lucas Zelarayan, Derrick Etienne Jr. (Alex Matan 73’); Miguel Berry (Gyasi Zardes 73’)
Charleston Battery: Joe Kuzminsky; Trialist, Preston Kilwien, Patrick Hogan, Matt Sheldon, Trialist 2, Matteo Ritaccio, Romario Pigott, EJ Johnson, Trialist 3, Augustine Williams
Scoring Summary:
CLB – Jonathan Mensah (Artur) 9’        Â
CLB – Lucas Zelarayan (Unassisted) 27’
CLB – Pedro Santos (Penalty kick) 49’   Â
Misconduct Summary:
CLB – Pedro Santos (caution) 19’
CHA – EJ Johnson (caution) 31’
