In a Major League Soccer match week bloated with goals, Columbus Crew SC forward Gyasi Zardes cemented maximum points for the home side at MAPFRE Stadium with a brace. His pair of goals against the Montreal Impact in Week 2 brings Zardes' 2018 total to three goals in 180 minutes (1.5 goals per 90).
Zardes finished the match with four shots, two on target, and 10 successful passes.
For the second time in as many weeks, Zardes followed a Federico Higuain goal with one of his own. In the 15th minute, the Black & Gold's newest frontman found the ball at his feet just inches from the line. He tapped in the Pedro Santos free kick that was deflected off the crossbar for his second goal of the season in his second goal since Crew SC in the offseason.
Zardes' most impactful touch of the ball was also his last. Deep into the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, 2018 MLS SuperDraft selection Luis Argudo surged into the Montreal 18-yard box before seeing his run dismantled by Impact rookie Ken Krolicki. Zardes stepped up for the Club's second spot kick, 82 minutes after the first, and burst his blast into the top corner of the net.
Columbus travels to face the Philadelphia Union in another Eastern Conference showdown on March 17 at 2 p.m. ET before returning to MAPFRE Stadium on March 24 clash against D.C. United at 6 p.m. ET.
2018 MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honorees:
Week 1: Lalas Abubakar (D), Federico Higuain (M), Milton Valenzuela (D)
Week 2: Gyasi Zardes (Bench)
