Columbus Crew held off a determined Orlando City SC to claim a 4-3 victory in an exhilarating showdown at Lower.com Field on Saturday night. The match saw a series of intense moments, with both teams pushing the limits in a game full of drama, goals, and late-game action.
The Crew took the lead in the 30th minute when forward Diego Rossi netted his third goal of the season against Orlando, bringing his overall tally to 11. The momentum continued to build in the second half, as forward Christian Ramirez extended the lead to 2-0 with a perfectly timed header off a cross from midfielder Max Arfsten.
Arfsten’s standout performance didn’t end there, as he recorded a second assist just 20 minutes later, setting up striker Cucho Hernandez to take the Crew to a commanding 3-0 lead. However, Orlando City refused to back down, and a goal from forward Ramiro Enrique cut the deficit to 3-1, reigniting hopes for the visitors.
Tensions escalated as Crew midfielder Yaw Yeboah was charged with a foul inside the box, awarding Orlando a penalty kick. Luis Muriel capitalized on the opportunity, making it 3-2 with a well-placed shot that just eluded Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Columbus, however, quickly responded as Aziel Jackson, fresh off the bench, scored his first goal with the club, securing a crucial insurance goal and stretching the lead to 4-2.
The drama continued into stoppage time, with Orlando City forward Luis Angulo finding the net to bring the score to 4-3. Despite a flurry of late-game efforts from Orlando, the Crew managed to hold on to their narrow lead and seal the victory.
Throughout the match, both sides made full use of their substitutions, with the Crew relying on fresh legs to maintain their advantage. In the final minutes, Crew defenders Steven Moreira and Yevhen Cheberko collided in a mid-air challenge but remained in the game after medical attention.
This win adds another memorable moment for Crew fans at Lower.com Field, where Columbus continues to assert its dominance. Forward Aziel Jackson’s debut goal and Max Arfsten’s impressive two-assist game underscored a dynamic performance by the home side, who managed to fend off a resilient Orlando City in a hard-fought contest.
While Orlando made several comeback attempts, Columbus Crew's strong start and timely goals were enough to secure the three points, leaving Orlando City lamenting missed opportunities in front of the goal.
