The Columbus Crew were given a harsh lesson in attacking football on Saturday afternoon as a dominant New York Red Bulls team picked up its first win at Crew Stadium since 2006 with an hugely convincing 4-1 victory.
An early brace from Kenny Cooper effectively ended the game as a competition as New York took total control over the first 45 minutes, finding huge holes in the Crew defense and attacking with worrying ease as Columbus backed off and allowed the onslaught.
Thierry Henry added a third goal for New York just before half time, confidently slotting the ball past Crew keeper Andy Gruenebaum, who had recorded back to back clean sheets in goal before today’s game.
Thankfully, two second half substitutions added much needed fire to the Crew’s attack. Ethan Finlay and Dilly Duka both started to create chances as the Crew began to form an attacking unit along with Emilio Renteria who was starting to cause issues for the New York defense and was unlucky not to score on several occasions.
Unfortunately for Columbus, the first goal they were looking for didn’t come until the 89th minute when New York seemed to forget that allowing Chad Marshall to get his head on a corner kick will often result in a goal.
Even more unfortunate for Columbus was direct from the restart, as the Crew players were possibly dreaming of a miracle comeback, Thierry Henry found himself with space in the box and volleyed home for his second goal of the game.
Hopefully Columbus can bounce back from this heavy defeat when they travel to Philadelphia next Saturday. The next home game is the week after, Saturday April 21, when the Crew host the Houston Dynamos.