Columbus Crew 2 Edges New England Revolution II in a 2-1 Thriller

New England Revolution II faced a tough challenge on Sunday night, falling 2-1 to Columbus Crew 2 at Historic Crew Stadium in a tightly contested MLS NEXT Pro match. Despite a valiant effort, the result leaves New England with a 4-14-3 record, while Columbus Crew 2 improved to 10-5-6, strengthening their position in the standings.

The game started on a high note for Columbus, who took the lead in the 11th minute through a well-executed play finished by forward Cole Mrowka. However, New England quickly responded as Marcos Dias, the club's all-time leading scorer, volleyed a brilliant equalizer in the 19th minute. The goal, Dias' sixth of the season, was set up by midfielder Joshua Bolma, who delivered a perfectly chipped cross to record his second assist of the year.

The match remained evenly balanced in the second half until a pivotal moment in the 62nd minute when Columbus was awarded a penalty. Revolution II’s goalkeeper, Max Weinstein, showcased his skills by making a crucial save to deny Mrowka from the spot, keeping New England’s hopes alive. Weinstein, a graduate of the Revolution Academy, made five saves in his second consecutive start, solidifying his reputation as a promising young talent.

Unfortunately for New England, the decisive moment came in the 75th minute when Columbus forced an own goal, putting them ahead 2-1. New England pushed for an equalizer and came close in the 87th minute, but defender Eric Klein’s effort narrowly missed, skimming the crossbar.

Forward Alex Monis led the attack for New England, matching his single-game high with six shots, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. The match also marked the first professional start for 16-year-old midfielder Javaun Mussenden, one of seven Revolution Academy products featured in the game.

Revolution II will continue their road trip on Saturday, August 24, as they face Carolina Core FC at Truist Point Stadium. Fans can catch the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff live on Apple TV- MLS Season Pass.

Match Notes:

• Marcos Dias: Scored his sixth goal of the season.
• Joshua Bolma: Registered his second assist of the year.
• Alex Monis: Led New England with six shots.
• Javaun Mussenden: Logged 77 minutes in his first professional start.
• Max Weinstein: Recorded five saves, including a penalty kick save.
• Olger Escobar: Played his 10th match of the season.

Game Capsule:

• Match: MLS NEXT Pro Match #21
• Final Score: New England Revolution II 1, Columbus Crew 2 2
• Date: August 18, 2024
• Location: Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
• Weather: 83 degrees and cloudy

Scoring Summary:

• CLB: Cole Mrowka (Tristan Brown) 11’
• NE: Marcos Dias (Joshua Bolma) 19’
• NE: Own Goal 75’

Misconduct Summary:

• CLB: Chase Adams (Yellow Card) 18’
• NE: Javaun Mussenden (Yellow Card) 77’
• NE: Tiago Suarez (Yellow Card) 79’

Starting Lineups:

• New England Revolution II: Max Weinstein; Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi, Tiago Suarez, Eric Klein, Colby Quiñones; Javaun Mussenden, Luka Borovic, Patrick Leal; Joshua Bolma, Alex Monis, Marcos Dias.
• Columbus Crew 2: Stanislav Lapkes; Jacob Greene, Christopher Rogers, Owen Presthus; Brent Adu-Gyamfi, Adrian Gonzalez, Nicolas Rincon, Tristan Brown; Cole Mrowka, Chase Adams, Gibran Rayo.