Did anyone not see the reigning MLS Cup champions go to Yankee Stadium without going yard?
The Columbus Crew won a fourth-consecutive road game on Friday night when the Black & Gold beat 10-man New York City FC, 3-2, at Yankee Stadium. This is the second time in club history that Columbus has won four-straight matches on the road.
“It’s a massive run and just shows how good we are mentally,” Mohamed Farsi said of the streak. “I think we have more away wins right now than last year all season. I think so or the same, so I'm happy for that.”
So, let’s talk about Friday’s rally.
The visitors had chances to score in the first half but were denied by Matt Freese’s excellent play in goal. Then in the 39th minute, Christian Ramirez was denied a goal or obvious goal scoring opportunity – DOGSO – and NYCFC was reduced to 10 men after Mitja Ilenič was sent off.
But the Pigeons struck first and entered the break leading.
However, three Crew goals in the second half ensured three points to start the weekend.
Ramirez’s goal three minutes into the second half was initially ruled offside, but a VAR decision ensured the Black & Gold that they had the equalizer – and Ramirez had his second league goal of the campaign.
Five minutes later in the 53rd minute, Farsi scored the go-ahead goal by finishing the rebound to a vintage Crew attack that chopped through the New York defense.
“The idea for Mo is to be more consistent because he brings a lot of energy to the team,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said of Farsi after the match. “What I like is Mo had a really good game tonight because he wanted also to show himself that he's a better player than last year when we had the same deal here. Good for him. Now, he knows that he has to work on certain things, but I'm happy for him. He did a good job.”
Cucho Hernández reminded everyone that the Crew are dingers only then in the 65th minute when he smashed a penalty to the top right corner. The goal was his 30th in MLS and arrived after a lengthy VAR decision after Farsi was pushed from behind on the goal-line.
NYCFC trimmed the Columbus lead in the 86th minute, but the Crew held on – through 14 minutes of stoppage time – to win the Club’s first game since the Concacaf Champions Cup Final earlier this month in Mexico.
“If I have the power to give them everything that I have in my life, I would give it to them because this is amazing. I'm so proud of that because this is difficult,” Nancy said of his team’s bounce back after the circumstances in Pachuca. “Yes, we can manage tactics; yes, we can manage techniques; but the mental aspect, as you know, the brain is so difficult and so complex.
“This is my team. This is our team. This is the Club. This is the way we do things here. Now, they embrace that. I don't have to talk too much about it because they are like this. It's true that I haven't talked about it, but we lost the final and it was so difficult emotionally. We had to delay the game. We were here for many hours.
“My team found a way to stay on the task, to fight and to score goals. Yes, we conceded [goals], but to finish the game and to have a win like this, for me, they deserved that. I'm really proud of that.”
Following Friday night’s win, Columbus returns to action Wednesday night with a trip to South Beach. The Crew play the current league leaders, Inter Miami CF, at 7:30 p.m.
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