A shorthanded Columbus Crew defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1 with a late stoppage time goal by Eddie Gaven. Josh Williams responded to a Valdes early goal with his first career tally before being ejected in the 69th minute. Federico Higuaín continued to earn his keep with two assists, while Justin Meram recorded an assist of his own.
It took a little while for the teams to create clear chances but the Union saw its first attempt by Danny Cruz in the 11th minute saved by Matt Lampson who earned his first career start. In the 15th Valdes saw his header, off a corner kick, go high.
The Union goal came in the 29th minute after Chris Birchall was whistled for a foul outside the box. Valdes took the free kick from 30 yards out and the ball took a deflection that tricked Lampson finding the net for the 1-0 lead.
The Crew did not let up and continued to look for the equalizer which came in the 41st minute. Union defender Sheanon Williams pulled Dilly Duka outside the box and referee Yader Reyes awarded the free kick. Higuaín coolly whipped the ball into the middle of the box where it found Williams, who headed it to the right of Philadelphia ‘keeper Zac MacMath.
The Crew almost got another one a few minutes later but Duka’s 45th minute blast was deflected by the Union defense.
In the second half, the Union went on the offensive but couldn’t find the back of the net. A 52nd minute cross by Cruz failed to connect with Jack McInerney, and a 62nd shot by Amobi Okugo was punched out by Lampson, allowing the Crew to counter.
The game took a turn for the worse when Williams was shown red in the 68th minute for a foul off the ball bringing the Black & Gold to 10 men for the last 20 minutes of the match.
The Union took advantage of the situation, inundating Lampson with shots. The onslaught almost paid off in the 81st when Brian Carroll put the ball in the back of the net but Reyes called an offside before the play taking the goal back.
The Union continued to attack but ultimately it would be the Crew who would come out on top. In the final minutes of stoppage time, Lampson sent a goal kick deep into Union territory allowing Higuaín to pick it up. The Argentinean forward sent it left to an oncoming Meram who then generously passed it across the goal mouth to Gaven. The veteran striker finished beautifully to give the Crew its third consecutive win.
Higuain recorded his third and fourth MLS assist. He has contributed either a goal or an assist in every match he’s been involved in.
The Crew is now 11-8-6 on the season and 4-5-4 on the road. The Crew is undefeated (3-0-2) since it started the busy stretch of seven games in 21 days on August 15.
With the win the Crew is now tied for sixth place in the Eastern Conference, two points out of playoff contention and three points out of third place with games in hand over Houston and D.C. United who are third and fourth respectively.
The Black & Gold returns home on Saturday, Sept. 1 as it faces the surging Montreal Impact at Crew Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
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