Columbus Crew SC Correct the Wrong, Defeat New England Revolution 2-0

Columbus Crew SC’s last road win was Oct. 17 at Toronto FC. The club’s last shutout was June 18. The team’s last MLS win in any stadium was May 28.

On Saturday night, the Black & Gold erased all of those records in a 2-0 win at the New England Revolution.

Despite the final result, it wasn’t a pretty start to the match for Columbus. Just like the last game with the Revolution, when Lee Nguyen scored just three minutes in, New England came out hot.

The Revs dominated possession over the opening five minutes, but it was Crew SC who started the scoring.

Playing out of pressure at the back in the eighth minute, left back Hector Jimenez played a long ball down the line to Justin Meram. The winger took on London Woodberry and set a tantalizing cross buzzing across the face of the goal. On-rushing back-side winger Ethan Finlay rushed in and redirected the ball home for an early 1-0 lead.

Having come out well, New England seemed shocked by the turn of events. Any momentum built was flipped on its head as Columbus began to take control.

In the 22nd minute, Finlay had a chance to double his tally and the lead on a through pass from Federico Higuain. The winger couldn’t get the ball out from underneath his feet and his weak shot was easily collected by Revs goalkeeper Brad Knighton.

The Black & Gold went into halftime with a lead for the seventh time this season, looking for just the third win with the advantage.

Four minutes into the second half and Crew SC doubled the lead.

Forward Ola Kamara went into a slide tackle on a delaying Woodberry in his own half and won the ball. Kamara took possession and raced into the box, laying it off to an on-rushed Higuain. The attacker took a touch before slotting the ball by Knighton for his fourth goal of the season.

In the 72nd minute, former Columbus forward Kei Kamara had a chance to cut the deficit in half. After a ball played into him by Nguyen, Kamara turned and fired, but his shot was over goalkeeper Steve Clark’s goal.

Two minutes later, Kei thought he scored. The striker’s header beat Clark, but defender Michael Parkhurst was able to clear the ball off the line with an over-head kick.

Ten minutes later and New England should have scored again. This time it was substitute Juan Agudelo at the doorstep, but the forward was denied by the sliding efforts of Clark and Parkhurst.

The victory, the first in 10 matches for Crew SC, is a huge relief for the Black & Gold. The players and coaches have said for weeks that all it will take is one win to turn things around and now they have the chance to prove it.

Columbus has a quick turnaround with two home matches in the next week. Crew SC takes on the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday before a date with Western Conference’s San Jose Earthquakes next Saturday night.