ADVERTISEMENT

    Crew Posts Late Goal to Tie DC United 1-1

    A last minute strike from Hector Jimenez rescued a point for a frustrating Columbus Crew who had a man sent off during an ill tempered game at Crew Stadium on Saturday night.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The Crew came into the game with a familiar line-up and mostly familiar tactics, and again the opposing team had little difficulty in shutting down the Crew attack as Federico Higuain saw plenty of the ball but was unable to create any real goal scoring chances despite racking up 63% of possession during a far too casual first half.

    Visitors DC United made the Crew pay for their inability to score in the 31st minute when Fabian Espindola blasted the ball into Crew ‘keeper Steve Clark’s net before angering the Crew faithful by cupping his ear and celebrating in front of the home fans.

    The second half started a little better for the Crew who looked a little more awake. Jairo Arrieta and super-sub Justin Meram were brought on to add much needed fire power up front and replaced defender Waylon Francis and the largely ineffective Dom Oduro.

    The game almost descended into farce in the 71st minute after Crew’s Giancarlo Gonzalez — fined for play acting during last weeks game — brought down DC’s Eddie Johnson just outside the Crew box. While the officials decided upon Gonzalez’s fate a scuffle broke out between Anor and Espindola. Within a few seconds seemingly every single player on the pitch pushed and shoved their way into each other and had to be separated by the distracted officials who eventually waved a yellow card at Gonzalez when many were expecting red.

    The expected red card did eventually come, but this one was waved in Bernardo Anor’s direction for a rash and totally unnecessary two-footed tackle on Perry Kitchen in the 81st minute.

    With 10 men and little time left it seemed like the Crew were going to suffer its second defeat of the season but yet again the Crew pulled off some last minute drama, as Jimenez did his best Justin Meram impersonation and curled the ball into the goal from just outside the penalty area.

    The goal was followed by five minutes of added time as the Crew tried to push on for a winning goal while a slightly shell-shocked DC hunkered down and held on for an away-day point.

    Next up for the Crew are the New York Red Bulls, next Saturday night at Crew Stadium.

    For ongoing discussion on the 2014 Columbus Crew Season, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard.

    Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers bands that visit the city and the Columbus Crew MLS team. More about Matt can be found at Matt Ellis Photography.

    crew-dc-2014-04

    crew-dc-2014-03

    crew-dc-2014-02

    crew-dc-2014-01

    crew-dc-2014-09

    crew-dc-2014-08

    crew-dc-2014-07

    crew-dc-2014-06

    crew-dc-2014-05

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    Photos: Crew Dominate New York 3-0

    Columbus Crew's impressive start to the 2024 MLS Season...

    Photos: Crew Advance to CONCACAF Cup Quarter Finals

    Columbus Crew moved on to the quarter finals of...

    Photos: Two Door Cinema Club Plays to Sold-Out Crowd

    Northern Irish indie-rock three-piece Two Door Cinema Club stopped...

    Photos: Brit-Rock (And More) Invades The Newport

    Post-Britpop radio-hit wonders The Kooks returned to Columbus on...

    Photos: Arnold Sports Festival 2024

    It's March, it's (kinda) warm outside and Downtown Columbus...
    Matt Ellis
    Matt Ellishttps://www.instagram.com/3songsandgone/
    Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers music that happens in the city and the Columbus Crew SC home games. More photography from Matt can be found at his Instagram page.
    ADVERTISEMENT