The off-field momentum for the Columbus Crew was already surging due to the #NewCrew reveal.
Saturday, at PPL Park, a four-minute span made sure that the on-field momentum would continue as well.
That's all the time that Ethan Finlay, Justin Meram and Jairo Arrieta needed to set a new club record for the fastest three goals in club history -- three goals that also granted the Crew its largest-ever road comeback victory, the only time in club history that the team overcame a two goal deficit to win on the road.
"Going down 2-0 is something you can't plan for," said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. "Our resiliency and character of our group to come back from that, to me, is amazing."
Think about those records for a second. Tonight's match was the 592nd regular-season fixture in Black & Gold history. Never before had the club scored three faster goals. It was also the 296th such road match in club history. Never before had a larger comeback been achieved away from Columbus.
Toss in the fact that the Crew's Designated Player and in-form leftback were not available for the match, as well as the stakes of a late-season push for the MLS Cup Playoffs, and it's clear that tonight's result was among the most memorable in Black & Gold history.
"I think we showed our resilience, to be able to battle back and stick to our system, the style of soccer that we want to play," said Finlay. "We were rewarded for that ... Credit to all of the guys. The guys that started and the guys that came in all made a huge difference tonight."
As for that push for the MLS Cup Playoffs, Toronto FC's loss at Red Bull Arena gave the Crew a six-point cushion in the fifth slot. The outlook is incredibly bright that the Black & Gold will qualify, but now the Crew has a chance to go to New York and help earn the right to play at home in what is increasingly looking like a match that will serve as a First Round preview.
Perhaps, with all of the positivity surrounding this club and its future right now, the Black & Gold aren't quite done making history.
