The Columbus Crew set a new single-season Club record with 60 points in a campaign on Saturday night when the Black & Gold beat the Philadelphia Union, 3-2, at Lower.com Field.
“This is the idea – all the time try to grow and seek for improvement,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said after the game. “That's why I'm really happy about this because we play 46 games. Last year at this moment, we didn't play the same amount of games. We have wins and we have also more points.
For me, this is the consistency of what we are able to do, and also, this is a fact that my players want to get better. They accept all the challenges that my staff and I try to give them. For me, I'm really, really happy with that because this is so difficult.”
Cucho Hernández scored his first of two goals in the third minute when he nodding home a corner from Dylan Chambost.
The Union equalized, however, in the 25th minute when Patrick Schulte parried a free kick before Nathan Harriel scored the rebound.
But Mohamed Farsi restored the Columbus lead in the 40th minute when he carried the ball into the box before it pinballed around and he slotted it with his left-foot past Andre Blake.
“I love it. I love it, simple as that,” Nancy said of the goal. “There is a simple play that sometimes we forget with modern football – give-and-go, the give-and-go. You give the ball, and you go. This is so difficult to defend because you come from behind; this is a late run. That's why for me this is amazing. I love that. I love that.”
Chambost and Cucho connected again in the 76th minute when the Frenchman played a corner into the area toward a running Cucho, who headed the ball to the back post.
In his last 35 MLS regular season matches, Cucho has amassed 29 goals and 15 assists.
The visitors would score once more in the 78th minute, but it wasn’t enough to deny Columbus three points to seal 60 points in a season for the first time in club history.
The Black & Gold now have two games remaining in the 2024 MLS regular season and have already sealed second place in the Eastern Conference. On Saturday, they will host the New England Revolution at Lower.com Field. Claim your seat.
Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution
Join us this Saturday, October 12th for our next match, Fan Appreciation presented by Ease Logistics.
