Columbus Crew SC won at MAPFRE Stadium for the first time in three months as Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram each grabbed a goal to cap-off a promising Crew SC performance as the home team beat San Jose 2-0.
Both teams started out slowly with the majority of the action taking place around midfield as a slightly reworked Crew SC, missing Hiquain and Adam Jahn leading the attack, tried to find a foothold on the game.
Columbus opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark when Finlay ghosted towards the back post and was left with a simple tap-in as Justin Meram’s cross-ball found the Crew SC winger wide open.
San Jose have goalkeepers David Bingham and his late first-half replacement, Andrew Tarbell for keeping them in the game as both keepers made a handful of smart saves, most notable Tarbell’s low diving save from Jahn’s header with his first touch of the game.
Justin Meram calmed the home faithful nerves in the 84th minute when the Crew SC #9 converted from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box by San Jose defender Marvell Wynne.
The win takes Columbus off of the bottom of the Eastern Conference due to Chicago Fire getting hammered 6-2 by DC United.
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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.