{"id":165435,"date":"2025-09-18T12:52:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T12:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/165435\/"},"modified":"2025-09-18T12:52:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T12:52:08","slug":"columbus-crew-fail-to-protect-multiple-leads-handed-loss-vs-new-york-city-fc-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/165435\/","title":{"rendered":"Columbus Crew fail to protect multiple leads, handed loss vs New York City FC: Takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

After conceding a second goal to New York City FC<\/a>, the Crew thought the worst-case scenario would be walking away with a draw and one point, but a goal in second-half stoppage time caused the Crew to fall 3-2 on Sept. 17.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a group, we just need to find a way to be better defensively,\u201d Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe<\/a> said. \u201cTo leave here without a point after having the lead twice is disappointing. So, it’s up to us. We\u2019ve just got to look ourselves in the mirror and figure out a way to defend better.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Crew replay: Columbus Crew concede multiple leads, fall to New York City on the road<\/a><\/p>\n

New York midfielder Julian Fernandez put away the game with a long shot from the top-right corner of the Crew\u2019s box three minutes into the four announced for stoppage time.<\/p>\n

At the point Fernandez scored, New York midfielder Hannes Wolf had already generated comebacks from two separate Crew advantages.<\/p>\n

The Crew first pulled ahead in the 37th minute when forward Daniel Gazdag<\/a> landed a penalty kick following a foul against striker Wessam Abou Ali<\/a> inside New York\u2019s box. The first lead held until Wolf scored one minute before halftime off a free kick.<\/p>\n

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New York City midfielder Hannes Wolf (right) celebrates with midfielder Maximiliano Moralez after scoring against the Columbus Crew.<\/p>\n

Abou Ali recorded a goal of his own with a header at the 60-minute mark that gave the Crew their second advantage.<\/p>\n

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However, less than 15 minutes later, Wolf notched his second goal of the game, capitalizing on a Crew turnover. New York midfielder Aiden O\u2019Neill stripped Gazdag of the ball before midfield and sent a short pass to forward Agustin Ojeda, who connected with Wolf.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe conceded three goals – one on the set piece and two because we lost the ball and the defensive transition,\u201d Crew coach Wilfried Nancy<\/a> said. \u201cThis is not like we were outnumbered. We had numbers. \u2026 We got punished, and this is the reality at this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Columbus Crew\u2019s defense continues to be concerning<\/p>\n

The Crew, despite winning their previous game, a matchup against Atlanta United<\/a>, have given up seven goals across the last two contests, which is the most they\u2019ve allowed in a two-game span since Nancy took over in 2023.<\/p>\n

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Crew defender Malte Amundsen reacts after Columbus fell 3-2 to New York City at Yankee Stadium.<\/p>\n

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Crew\u2019s 46 goals allowed matches the number they conceded in all of 2023 and surpass their total from 2024 by six.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe need to be better at it,\u201d Nagbe said. \u201cWe want to put it all together, especially at least the point of the season. We want to attack well and defend well, not one or the other. \u2026 But I think, it\u2019s just up to us on the field, individually, to make plays in certain moments in the games.\u201d<\/p>\n

Columbus Crew\u2019s collapses overshadowing the offense’s improvement<\/p>\n

The Crew\u2019s defensive issues are amplified by the fact that their offense has started to find its footing. For the first time since May<\/a>, the Crew recorded back-to-back games with multiple goals. That achievement, however, feels hollow after falling to New York.<\/p>\n

Against Atlanta, the Crew went up 5-0<\/a>, and Atlanta’s eventual comeback fell short by just one goal.<\/p>\n

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The Crew were never able to build more than a one-goal lead against New York, going back and forth between being ahead and being tied, which allowed Fernandez to score a game-winner.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s just being disciplined mentally,\u201d Crew midfielder Max Arfsten<\/a> said. \u201cWe don’t have the luxury to be calm and too comfortable whenever we have the lead, because that’s when we tend to concede. Myself included, like I’m taking responsibility for my part, but we all know we just got to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Crew forward Wessam Abou Ali dribbles against New York City.<\/p>\n

Columbus Crew fall in Eastern Conference standings due to loss<\/p>\n

Though the Crew went into the game against New York two spots ahead of their opponent in the Eastern Conference standings, they now sit two spots behind in seventh, as New York leaped to fifth with the victory.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAgain, we have to accept the reality,\u201d Nancy said. \u201cThis is because we don’t do certain things well enough. We are going to have to do it better to play better for 90 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

With just over a month before the MLS Cup playoffs<\/a> are set to begin, every team still in the running to make the postseason is looking to boost its standing. The top nine teams from each conference reach the playoffs, with the top four getting home-field advantage for the first round.<\/p>\n

BLACK & GOLD: Sign up for our weekly Columbus Crew newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n

The Crew (13-7-10) are in the mix of the six teams, ranked between third and eighth in the standings, that are separated by just five points.<\/p>\n

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The Crew return to Lower.com Field<\/a> to face Toronto FC<\/a> on Sept. 20. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

bmackay@dispatch.com<\/a><\/p>\n

@brimackay15<\/a><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew lose vs New York City FC: Takeaways<\/a><\/p>\n