Second-half substitute Justin Meram scored the late winner for Columbus Crew SC in a 2-1 victory over New York City FC in front of 30,018 fans at Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Meram, who replaced Cedrick Mabwati in the 57th minute, took a pass from Federico Higuaín following a turnover in the NYCFC defensive third, and slotted a low shot that kissed the far post before rolling into the net in the 83rd minute. It was his fourth goal of the season.
Crew SC (11-8-8) raced in front in 10 minutes on Higuain’s seventh goal of the season. Will Trapp played a corner toward the back post, where the Argentine shed Andrea Pirlo and bounced his header in from eight yards out.
Kei Kamara nearly doubled Crew SC’s advantage two minutes later when he slipped behind the NYCFC defense and settled the ball in the box. But Kamara skied his attempt from 12 yards away.
The equalizer for NYCFC (7-13-7) came in the 29th minute on Andrew Jacobson’s first goal for the expansion club. Patrick Mullins chested the ball down, layed it off to the midfielder and Jacobson took a quick touch before putting his low, swerving shot from distance in off Steve Clark’s hand.
In the 41st minute, Mix Diskerud played David Villa on his right and the NYCFC captain cut inside before putting his left-footed shot just over the far post.
In first-half stoppage time, Diskerud attempted a bicycle kick from the edge of the six-yard box, but it went over and the teams sent into the break level at one.
Later, the stadium erupted in the 60th minute when Kwadwo Poku replaced Frank Lampard, who made his second start for NYCFC.
Columbus came inches away from scoring the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute when Kamara latched onto an Higuaín cross. But the forward hammered the crossbar with his header from eight yards out.
Four minutes later, NYCFC goalkeeper Josh Saunders did well to dive to stop a near-post attempt by Ethan Finlay.
But Saunders wasn’t able to get his hand on Meram’s shot as Columbus claimed all three points, keeping NYCFC below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference.
Both teams will face FC Dallas next with Columbus hosting the Hoops on Sept. 6, while NYCFC heads to Frisco Sept. 12.
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