Match Recap | Columbus Crew 2-2 NYCFC

New York City FC headed to Mapfre Stadium on Saturday to face off against Columbus Crew SC, as the team looked to extend their singular season record unbeaten streak which stood at eight.

Coming into the matchup, Head Coach Dome Torrent made two changes to the Starting XI. Ben Sweat and Ebenezer Ofori made their return to the lineup for the Boys in Blue. 

The Crew started the match maintaining possession and taking a shot on goal five minutes into the match. David Guzman threatened the NYCFC goal with the first attempt of the game, but Sean Johnson was there to make a strong save down to his left.

Although the home team had a brighter start to the match, the defense held strong, with James Sands especially dominant in the City backline.

Unfortunately for NYC, Columbus Crew notched the first goal of the night on a penalty kick from Gyasi Zardes in the 28’ minute. 

Alex Callens was adjudged to have made the foul leading to the spot-kick and VAR upheld the decision, much to the Copa America-bound Peruvian's frustration.

Right before going into the half, Ofori’s addition to the lineup nearly paid off as the midfielder took the team’s first meaningful shot on goal which flashed just wide of goal. 

NYCFC retired to half-time down by one. 

Coming into the second half, the team’s urgency to score the equalizer was clear. 

First half substitute Ismael Tajouri-Shradi was influential when it came, connecting with Maxi Moralez, who crossed the ball to Héber for NYCFC’s first goal of the night, tying up the game at 1-1 in the 57’ minute.

It was the Brazilian's fourth goal for NYCFC and it came at the end of a breathtaking counter-attack.

The Crew, four minutes later, responded to City’s goal with a goal of their own from Pedro Santos, regaining the lead on their home turf, 2-1 in the 61’ minute. 

The hunt for the equalizer resumed for NYCFC, and Torrent made a bold move, bringing in another attacker in the shape of Castellanos from the bench.

The attempts kept flowing in from the road with vicious shots from Alexandru Mitriță and Tajouri-Shradi, but Zack Steffen was there to make the saves on his farewell appearance for Columbus, before taking up gloves for our sister club in Manchester.

However, the moment of the night was still come and it was the addition of Castellanos which paid off in fine style in the 76’ minute as he scored one of the goals of the season so far, taking aim from all of 35 yards and finding the bottom corner with a rocket of a shot.

That's how it stayed, meaning NYCFC extends their unbeaten streak to nine games.