A high-powered attacking performance from New York City FC saw the hosts snap Columbus Crew's six-match unbeaten streak following a 4-1 defeat for the Black & Gold at Yankee Stadium on Friday evening.
NYCFC opened up the scoring 14 minutes into the match off the head of Valentin Castellanos, who found the back of the net off of a Jesus Medina corner.
The controlling start from NYCFC continued, with the hosts doubling their lead in the 35th minute through winger Thiago Andrade. The young Brazilian's pace created a run down the left side of the pitch, and he collected a lofted through ball from teammate Alfredo Morales. The 20-year-old then took one look and chipped Room with his first touch to score in cheeky fashion, doubling NYCFC's lead.
Coming out of the halftime break, the Cityzens' high-powered attack continued. They added a third goal six minutes into the half through midfielder Keaton Parks. He was fed a well-placed ball from Thiago Andrade, who nutmegged a defender with his pass and Parks tapped home inside the six-yard box.
NYCFC weren't done yet, and they added a fourth goal through newcomer Santiago Rodriguez in the 71st minute after Room palmed away an initial that landed at the feet of Maxi Moralez. He passed it to a wide-open Rodriguez, who simply tapped it home down the middle of the net. Video Review was needed to overrule an offside call on the field, allowing the goal to stand.
The Crew managed their first attempt on target in the 81st minute when Marlon Hairston found the back of the net off of a header, but the referee's offside flag went up immediately, calling the goal back.
Late in second-half stoppage time, the Crew earned a penalty kick and Pedro Santos scored from the spot. The late consolation goal mattered little, though, in the Eastern Conference clubs' third meeting this season.
Up next, the Crew returns home on Wednesday, August 4 for a bout against D.C. United, with kickoff slated for 7:30 p.m. ET from Lower.com Field.
