The Columbus Crew have formed a habit over the years of producing late goals to stun New York City FC.
Three years ago, it was the “Argentine Babe Ruth,” Lucas Zelarayán. In 2023, Sean Zawadzki scored a 94th-minute equalizer, while the Crew beat NYCFC last summer with two second half stoppage-time goals from DeJuan Jones and Jacen Russell-Rowe.
The fortunes changed Wednesday night.
Instead, it was the Crew who found themselves retrieving the ball from their net late in the match, as Julián Fernández’s 94th-minute golazo snapped Columbus’ six-game unbeaten run with a 3-2 loss at Yankee Stadium.
“The reality is we concede too many goals,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said. “We’ve conceded seven goals in two games, simple as that. We score goals, but we concede goals. This is not the same goals that we concede every game. Regarding Atlanta the way we conceded and today the way we conceded, this is another situation. This is the reality.”
On Saturday night, the Black & Gold rocketed to a five-goal lead at Atlanta United FC before the home side rallied back and the match finished, 5-4. It was concerning, but it was a road win.
Then on Wednesday night, the Crew found themselves in the lead, only for that lead to wash away on two occasions.
First Daniel Gazdag gave the visitors the lead via a 40th-minute penalty kick. NYCFC equalized three minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Wessam Abou Ali scored his second goal in as many games at the hour mark when he headed a Max Arfsten cross to the back post. NYCFC equalized 13 minutes later before the eventual game winner.
“It could be mental, it could be tactics, it could be technique or defensive technique,” Nancy said. “When we conceded today, we conceded three goals: one on the set piece and two because we lost the ball and the defensive transition. This is not like we were outnumbered. We had numbers. Again, we have to make a foul if we need to make a foul. We have to stop the action, and we don't do it. We got punished, and this is the reality at this moment.”
Beginning Saturday night at Lower.com Field against Toronto FC in the Trillium Cup, the Black & Gold have four games remaining in the 2025 MLS regular season. As of Thursday morning, the side sits seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Dropping into eighth forces the Crew to play in a play-in game. However, the club sits one point out of fourth place – which guarantees home-field advantage in the first round.
Columbus is on the cusp of massive moments. Let’s see how the players respond to the pressure.
“It's up to us,” Darlington Nagbe said. “We’ve just got to look ourselves in the mirror and figure out a way to defend better in certain moments.”
