BRONX, N.Y. – The winning streak ends at five for NYCFC as they lose 3-2 to Columbus Crew SC on Friday night at Yankee Stadium. The damage was done late in the first half when a red card for Mitja Ilenic gave the Crew all the momentum they needed to score three times in the second half and secure the win.
From the start City lacked their usual punch throughout their streak. Columbus bossed the midfield, controlling possession and creating the better opportunities. City goalkeeper Matt Freese was called upon to make key saves including an effort in front a near empty net in the 13th minute. A few minutes later Freese came up big again, stopping Cucho Hernandez from giving the Crew a lead.
The game shifted in the 39th minute when Illenic brought down a Crew player as he advanced towards goal. Minutes later Agustin Ojeda defied the odds to put City ahead thanks to a backwards pass from Alonso Martinez. The home team went into the halftime break with a lead but would soon face the might of a Crew team that didn’t let the first half slip-up affect them.
The Crew found the equalizer just three minutes into the second half from Christian Ramirez. The play was one of two video reviews that went the way of Columbus as the effort was initially dubbed offside. Mohamed Farsi found the net in the 53rd minute with a left-footed shot and Hernandez converted a penalty after a review found that Hannes Wolf shoved Farsi on the goal line. Santiago Rodriguez found the back of the net just before the final whistle to make the game close but the Crew were able to keep City at bay.
While head coach Nick Cushing did attempt to make substitutions to sway the game, their finishing was poor and the Crew controlled too much of the midfield for the home team to gain momentum. The loss is the first for NYCFC since May 5th against Colorado. Next will be a trip to LA to play the Galaxy in the hopes of regrouping in a tight Eastern Conference.
STARTING XI:
New York City FC: Freese; Ilenic, Tanasijevic, Risa, Gray (74′ Jones), Parks, Sands, Ojeda (46′ Perea), Rodriguez, Wolf (74′ McFarlane), Martinez (56′ Moralez)
Columbus Crew SC: Schulte; Amundsen, Camacho, Cheberko (71′ Morris), Farsi, Zawadzki, Nagbe, Arfsten (83′ Moreira), Ramirez (90′ Jones), Rossi, Hernandez (83′ Matan)
SCORING SUMMARY
45′ (NYCFC) Agustin Ojeda (2) assisted by Alonso Martinez and Santiago Rodriguez
48′ (Columbus Crew) Christian Ramirez (3) assisted by Cucho Hernandez and Max Arfsten
53′ (Columbus Crew) Mohamed Farsi (3) unassisted
65′ (Columbus Crew) Cucho Hernandez (6) penalty kick
86′ (NYCFC) Santiago Rodriguez (7) unassisted
DISCIPLINE:
33′ (NYCFC) Strahinja Tanasijevic – YELLOW CARD
39′ (NYCFC) Mitja Ilenic – RED CARD
58′ (Columbus Crew) Yevhen Cheberko – YELLOW CARD
90′ (Columbus Crew) Diego Rossi – YELLOW CARD
90′ (NYCFC) Maxi Moralez – YELLOW CARD
90′ (NYCFC) Santiago Rodriguez – YELLOW CARD
photo by Jordan Banks