In an intense and action-packed conclusion, the Columbus Crew defeated New York City FC 4-2, with DeJuan Jones scoring his first MLS goal in the final moments of stoppage time, followed by an insurance goal from Jacen Russell-Rowe just seven minutes later. The Crew's dramatic late goals came after NYCFC's Mounsef Bakrar tied the match at 2-2 in the 86th minute.
The decisive moment for Columbus arrived when Alexandru Irinel Matan cleverly set up Jones for the go-ahead goal, heading a failed clearance to the penalty spot where Jones was unmarked and ready to capitalize. Russell-Rowe then sealed the victory with a simple tap-in after goalkeeper Patrick Schulte’s initial save.
This win pushes Columbus to 14-4-7 on the season, with 48 points from 25 games, marking their best start in team history. The Crew have allowed only 24 goals, a testament to their defensive prowess. In addition to the late-game drama, Columbus also saw goals from Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten.
Diego Rossi’s contribution was particularly notable as he became only the fourth player in Columbus Crew history to achieve at least 10 goals and 10 assists in a single season. He joins the ranks of Cucho Hernández, Lucas Zelarayán, and Ethan Finlay in accomplishing this milestone. NYCFC, however, had their own standout performance, with Alonso Martínez opening the scoring in the fourth minute and continuing his excellent form with 11 goals in 19 league games this season.
The match saw a relatively quiet first 85 minutes, with only three goals scored before the thrilling final minutes of regulation and stoppage time. After Max Arfsten’s 58th-minute goal gave Columbus a 2-1 lead, Bakrar's late equalizer set up the chaotic end to the match.
Jones' late goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time swung the momentum in Columbus' favor. Just minutes later, NYCFC’s Julian Fernandez was shown a red card, reducing the visitors to 10 men. With the advantage, Russell-Rowe’s goal in the 10th minute of stoppage time secured the Crew’s victory, leaving NYCFC with a tough defeat.
NYCFC's coach, Nick Cushing, acknowledged the challenging atmosphere in Columbus and praised his team's resilience despite the loss. He highlighted the difficulty of playing against the reigning MLS Cup and Leagues Cup champions, but emphasized that his squad's ability to compete shows growth, even if the result was not in their favor.
Columbus’ victory solidifies their third-place position in the Eastern Conference with 49 points, while NYCFC remains in fifth place with 39 points. Midfielder Keaton Parks expressed his frustration with the result and criticized the refereeing, claiming missed calls affected the outcome. Despite the frustration, Parks called on his team to maintain high standards moving forward as they continue their push for the playoffs.
With the season heading into its final stretch, both teams will need to build on the intensity of this match, but Columbus will be buoyed by their continued strong form and historic season thus far.
