The Columbus Crew earned three important points for the playoff race as it defeated Chivas USA 1-0 on Wednesday night at Crew Stadium. Justin Meram’s 89th minute goal, paired with another stellar performance by Andy Gruenebaum, proved to be enough for the Black & Gold to climb back into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Gruenebaum was forced to make his first save of the evening in the fifth minute as he quickly smothered a Miller Bolanos shot. The Crew responded three minutes later with a nice combination between Jairo Arrieta and Dilly Duka but the young midfielder’s shot sailed wide to the left of goal.
The Crew put the ball in the back of the net in the 20th minute, with Arrieta who picked up a rebound off a Josh Williams shot but the referee called the Costa Rican offside.
In the 32nd, Julius James took a chance on a Federico Higuaín free kick but his header hit the left post. Two minutes later Arrieta hammered the ball at goal but Chivas ‘keeper Dan Kennedy was quick to save his shot.
Scoreless at the half, both teams came out swinging in the second stanza, looking to break the deadlock. A shot by Eddie Gaven in the 52nd was deflected to Higuaín who sent the ball wide to the right. Then, four minutes later, it was Duka’s turn to take a shot from distance that also went wide.
While the visitors were almost settling on a draw, the Crew did not let up and continued to attack. The offensive tactic finally paid off in the waning moments of regulation. In the 89th minute, Arrieta found himself sending a Higuaín cross towards goal that rebounded off of Kennedy. As he was falling backwards, the Costa Rican headed the ball back to an oncoming Meram who struck it past Kennedy for the game-winner and the much earned three points.
The Crew is now 13-10-6 on the season and 9-3-2 at home. The win puts the Crew in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, one point ahead of D.C. United and one point behind the Houston Dynamo.
The Crew travels to TOYOTA Park in Bridgeview, Ill., on Saturday, Sept. 22, to face the Chicago Fire in an all-important Eastern Conference matchup.
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