RECAP: Red Bulls Fail to Score Against Crew

HARRISON, N.J. – New York Red Bulls put up a fight against Columbus Crew SC but fail to win as both teams play to a scoreless draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Saturday night. The draw is a welcome point but shy of what the club had hoped would be a momentum-builder heading into the final five games of the season.

Red Bulls weren’t passive in their play as they pushed for a goal early in the game. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting was especially dangerous, creating opportunities and even having a shot deflected off the goal post. Emil Forsberg was also particularly cunning in the game as he spread the ball wide to both Wiki Carmona and Mohammed Sofo. While their play did show signs of creativity that has lacked in recent weeks, it still wasn’t enough to grab a lead.

New York did think that they took the lead late in the first half when Forsberg was fed a pass that put him in on goal. He beat goalkeeper Patrick Schulte but was called offside without a video review.

Wilfred Nancy’s Crew team came into the second half with more vigor as they pressed New York into some early mistakes. Diego Rossi had the Crew’s best chance when he was all but alone on goal but put the ball wide of goalkeeper Carlos Coronel. The remainder of the game became a battle of attrition as both clubs took advantage of fouls to jockey for better positioning but couldn’t find the dynamic moment to win the game.

Red Bulls now sit at 40 points in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of Chicago Fire who do not play this weekend. Next is a difficult trip to Portland where New York still has not found their form away from SI Stadium. A win now becomes essential in order to keep the pressure on Chicago and NYCFC who suffered a defeat on Saturday night.

STARTING XI:

New York Red Bulls: Coronel; D. Nealis, S. Nealis, Eile, Edwards, Sofo (77′ Ngoma), Carmona, Stroud (90′ Donkor), Forsberg, Edelman (77′ Berggren), Choupo-Moting

Columbus Crew SC: Schulte; Herrera (74′ Lappalainen), Moreira, Amundsen, Arfsten, Chambost (74′ Cheberko), Zawadzki, Harboune, Gazdag (74′ Picard), Abou Ali (79′ Aliyu), Rossi

SCORING SUMMARY:


DISCIPLINE:
29′ (Columbus Crew SC) Dylan Chambost – YELLOW CARD
69′ (New York Red Bulls) Mohammed Sofo – YELLOW CARD
79′ (Columbus Crew SC) Hugo Picard – YELLOW CARD