Columbus Crew let two-goal lead evaporate, tie Orlando City 2-2 | Replay
For the first time in their last three MLS matches, the Crew struck first against Orlando City on Saturday night at Lower.com Field.
But though the Crew scored the first goal — and the second — and controlled much of the game, they let their two-goal lead slip in the second half, culminating in a 92nd minute equalizer by Orlando City to end the game in a 2-2 draw.
"It's frustrating a bit because we were in control of the game," Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said. "We were close to score the third one and the fourth one. We ended up 2-2. ... A bit disappointing regarding the goals that we conceded. This is a collective situation that we have to sort out a little bit better."
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe opened the scoring in the 39th minute with his first goal of the season, and forward Jacen Russell-Rowe doubled the Crew's lead just before halftime with a goal in first-half stoppage time. Orlando City had the Crew on the back foot through the first five-plus minutes of the game, but once the Crew settled in, they were in firm control for the rest of the first half.
Their control didn't slip much in the second half, but it slipped just enough to give Orlando City an opening to get back into the game. Orlando City forward Ercan Kara halved the deficit in the 49th minute, finishing a sequence in which Orlando City smoothly cut through the heart of the Crew's defense.
The Crew had numerous chances to extend their lead in the second half, and did get one goal past Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, but striker Cucho Hernandez's tally was disallowed after a check by the video assistant referee. They failed to convert on any of their other chances; Gallese made five saves in the second half after not making any in the first half.
In the 91st minute, Orlando City midfielder Facundo Torres won a free kick approximately 12 yards outside the 18-yard box after being fouled by center back Gustavo Vallecilla. Torres took the free kick and it bounced off several players before landing at the feet of forward Duncan McGuire, whose shot skipped off goalkeeper Patrick Schulte's shinpad and into the net.
"The way we conceded the two goals, it shouldn't happen," Nancy said. "Simple as that, because we were not in danger. We were not in danger and we had the possibility to clear the ball a few times and we didn't do it."
The Crew last won in league play on April 8, a 2-0 win at D.C. United. They're 0-2-2 since, but still sit seventh in the Eastern Conference on 15 points. They return to action on Wednesday as they host the LA Galaxy for their first midweek MLS game of the season.
"That's what I like about this team," Nagbe said. "We always move on from it, try to take the positives and correct the negatives. We'll do that again."
In-match updates
Welcome to the Dispatch's live coverage of the Crew against Orlando City. Refresh this page throughout the game for regular updates and live analysis. Follow the Dispatch's Columbus Crew beat writer, Bailey Johnson, on Twitter for further updates.
FINAL: Columbus Crew let two-goal lead evaporate, tie Orlando City 2-2
With first-half goals from Darlington Nagbe and Jacen Russell-Rowe, the Crew led 2-0 through 45 minutes. But Orlando City got on the scoresheet just three minutes into the second half, and despite several dangerous scoring chances, the Crew couldn't find a way to extend their lead. Those missed chances burned the Crew in the end, as Orlando City scored in the 92nd minute to equalize, ending the game in a 2-2 draw.
90+2' Orlando City scores to tie the game 2-2
The Crew scored in first-half stoppage time to double their lead, and Orlando City scored in second-half stoppage time to equalize. After a free kick from about 30 yards out, forward Duncan McGuire found space to put the ball past goalkeeper Patrick Schulte for the tying goal.
64' Cucho Hernandez goal taken away after VAR check
Hernandez nearly scored on three occasions earlier in the game, and on the break in the 64th minute, he found the back of the goal. Russell-Rowe set Hernandez up for the tally, but immediately after the goal, Orlando City's defenders protested that Hernandez had been offside when Russell-Rowe made the pass. Referee Drew Fischer was sent to the monitor by the video assistant referee, and after a check, the goal was disallowed.
49' Orlando City cuts the Crew's lead to 2-1
On the counterattack early in the second half, Orlando City carved the Crew's defense open through the middle of the field, allowing forward Ercan Kara to work in alone on goalkeeper Patrick Schulte. Kara beat Schulte in the one-on-one situation to get Orlando City on the board, trailing 2-1.
Halftime: Columbus Crew lead Orlando City 2-0
Behind goals from Nagbe and Russell-Rowe, the Crew led Orlando City 2-0 through the first 45 minutes. The Crew had 65.8% possession in the first half and nine total shots. They scored on each of their two shots on target. Orlando City finished the first half with four shots, none of them on target.
45+2' Jacen Russell-Rowe doubled the Crew's lead
Just before halftime, Russell-Rowe doubled the Crew's lead. Defender Mo Farsi, working in from the right side, found Russell-Rowe in front of goal, and Russell-Rowe elevated his shot over goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to give the Crew a 2-0 lead.
39' Darlington Nagbe gives the Crew a 1-0 lead on Orlando City
After threatening throughout much of the first half, the Crew finally got a shot past Gallese. Midfielder Alex Mățan dribbled into the right side of the 18-yard box and slipped a pass across the box to Nagbe, who was unmarked at the far post. Nagbe easily finished the tap-in to put the Crew up 1-0.
37' Cucho Hernandez misses by inches, again
The Crew have knocked on the door of scoring several times but every shot has been just a bit off. Hernandez, who had two near-misses in the 11th and 13th minutes, missed just wide again in the 37th minute, firing a right-footed strike that almost tucked inside the near post but skipped wide.
13' Cucho Hernandez shot misses by mere inches
After a nervy opening five minutes played largely in the Crew's defensive half, the Crew settled in and began to create on the attacking end of the field. Hernandez found open shooting lanes through Orlando City's defense — he's missed two shots by just a few inches in the 11th and 13th minutes.
1' Underway at Lower.com Field
Orlando City's Martin Ojeda kicked the ball into play to begin the game at Lower.com Field. The attendance was 20,488, the third consecutive sellout and the fourth-largest crowd in the stadium's history.
Columbus Crew starters
Patrick Schulte (goalkeeper); Gustavo Vallecilla (left center back), Philip Quinton (center back), Steven Moreira (right center back); Yaw Yeboah (left wingback), Darlington Nagbe (central midfielder), Aidan Morris (central midfielder), Mo Farsi (right wingback); Alex Mățan (attacking midfielder); Jacen Russell-Rowe (forward), Cucho Hernandez (forward).
Orlando City starters
Pedro Gallese, Iván Angulo, Rodrigo Schlegel, Antônio Carlos, Robin Jansson, Gastón González, César Araújo, Wilder Cartagena, Martín Ojeda, Facundo Torres, Ercan Kara
Get more Columbus Crew news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew blow lead, tie Orlando City 2-2
