Despite giving up the first goal for the sixth straight time, Columbus Crew SC battled back to win for the second out of the last three matches.
The action started quickly as Crew SC had a few early chances, perhaps the best of which came from Justin Meram, who blasted a shot that just went over the crossbar. The Red Bulls attacked immediately. On a through ball, Red Bulls’ youngster Anatole Bertrand Abang outran Crew SC defender Emanuel Pogatetz, then got an angle on Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark who could not stop Abang’s shot which rolled into the back of the net in what seemed like slow motion.
After conceding the goal, Crew SC had to continue to fend off New York chances, as Abang found a wide open Mike Grella on the side, who sent a rolling cross right in front of the goal but Pogatetz cleared the ball narrowly over his own crossbar. The ensuing corner led to a chipped pass that narrowly missed the outstretched foot of Grella, and Columbus would start the counter attack.
After the 20th minute, Columbus would create most of the scoring opportunities, including another Justin Meram shot, this time off a pass from Kei Kamara, which would be a foreshadowing of what was to come. Kamara would play a role again as the league’s leading goal-scorer headed on a long pass from goalkeeper Steve Clark, and the through ball found Ethan Finlay, who cut back quickly to avoid the overcommitted Red Bulls defender and deposited a shot in the top left corner of the goal, evening the score at 1 heading into halftime. Clark and Kamara were both credited with an assist on the play.
“It took a perfect skip off the grass, and I had it,” Finlay explained. “It’s something I’ve been working on, getting inside a guy like that. Once I got the touch inside I knew, I hit one earlier in warm-ups and I knew it was going to (go in).”
Halftime came and the main attraction was the introduction of midfielder Cedrick Mabwati, who arrived in the United States for the first time in his life on Friday. Mabwati becomes available for Crew SC next week.
After the halftime break Columbus would control possession and create chances. Early on Kamara would have a chance on a high lofted cross, but his wild scissor kick attempt fell wide and Kamara came up laughing. Just two minutes later Kamara would get yet another chance, this time Kamara was able to reach a foot up to make contact with a Meram cross, but was unable to bring it inside and the deflection attempt went just wide.
Later, after three Crew SC shots on goal, Columbus would get an extended build-up in the 74th. Pogatetz found Kamara who headed it on to substitute Kristinn Steindorsson, who deflected it out wide to Federico Higuain, who lofted a pass to the back post which Kamara headed again, this time to the front of goal and to the foot of a running Finlay who absorbed a slide tackle and deflected the ball in. Some role-reversal as Finlay, who leads the league in assists, scored two goals, both assisted by Kamara, who leads the league in goals.
“To me, goals are going to come,” Kamara said on being on the assisting end for a change. “When they don’t come, as long as I can work and help the team out and we can get three points then I’ll go home happy.”
One of the most exciting moments of the match came with just two minutes remaining, as Wil Trapp, a Columbus native and Homegrown player, returned to action for the first time since April after suffering a concussion. Trapp was met with a large standing ovation from the 14,000-plus Crew SC supporters who spent their Fourth of July evening at MAPFRE Stadium. Trapp would play the remainder of the match, and drew a foul in the corner in stoppage time and riled the crowd up even more as a yellow card was given.
Columbus Crew SC would go on to win with a final margin of 2-1, and Trapp was a major talking point after the match.
Crew SC’s Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter spoke highly of the former Gahanna Lincoln and University of Akron standout. “He means a lot to this area, and rightfully so. He’s a guy that most, if not all of Columbus is proud of and I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”
“It was a special moment. Being back in a home game, in front of the fans on such a great night, great team performance I was just happy to be on the field, and to be welcomed like that by our fans was the cherry on top,” Trapp said on the ovation.
Crew SC returns to action next Saturday with an away game against the Montreal Impact and the Red Bulls will take on the New England Revolution at home on the same night.
