After last week’s scoreless draw with the Montreal Impact at home, Columbus Crew SC claimed another point at a sold-out MAPFRE Stadium with a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls.
A goal by forward Ola Kamara in the third minute of second half stoppage time equalized and sealed a point for the Black & Gold. Kamara’s goal marks his fifth in the last four matches, and extends Crew SC’s regular-season unbeaten streak at home to seven contests.
The energy and speed of play by both of the Eastern Conference sides were high as the match kicked off. New York opened up the scoring chances in the third minute, when a Mike Grella toe-poke rattled the crossbar for the visitors' best chance over the first 45.
For the Black & Gold, their best opportunity of the first half came in the 30th minute when a Harrison Afful strike from distance kissed the right post. At the break, Crew SC and the Red Bulls were in a scoreless defensive battle.
Seven minutes after halftime, however, New York would take the lead. Midfielder Alex Muyl curled a cross into the Black & Gold penalty area to meet the head of Bradley Wright-Phillips, who found the back of the net to give his team the 1-0 advantage in the 53rd minute.
Both sides had opportunities to score throughout the half, but in the last 15 minutes of the match, Crew SC ramped up the pressure and looked to equalize. In the 78th minute, Ethan Finlay slotted a low ball across the Red Bull penalty area towards Kamara, whose one time attempt was blocked by Ronald Zubar. In the 90th minute, dangerous crosses swung in by Finlay and Waylon Francis were cleared by the New York defense.
But three minutes into stoppage time, Francis would find his man. The substitute drilled a low ball across the Red Bull goal to find the foot of a sliding Kamara, who netted the goal to equalize for Crew SC in the closing moments. When the final whistle sounded, the Black & Gold had claimed one point by supplying some late match fireworks in front 20,389 supporters.
Crew SC is back in action on Tuesday, June 28th, when it travels to Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Kickoff for the match is set for 8:30 p.m.
