Hope returned to Lower.com Field once again as the Columbus Crew celebrated Crewsmas with a 2-0 win over D.C. United on Saturday night.
With the disappointment of 2022 behind the team and a reshuffle both on and off the pitch, it was a full house that welcomed new coach Wilfried Nancy’s Crew back to Columbus to show the home-town faithful what this team has the potential to achieve.
It didn’t take long for the Crew to get going as early pressure led to Lucas Zelarayan opening his 2023 account with a smart finish after spinning himself free inside the box and slotting the ball into the goal.
The Crew kept up the early attacks and could, and probably should’ve, added to their total before Zelarayan again found the net with a typically lethal finish high above the D.C. ‘keeper.
The intensity and control dropped off as the game continued, but D.C. were unable to get themselves back into the game and the contest ended with the first points of a new era.
While there will be better performances and better opponents to come, there’s a lot of reasons to look forward to this MLS season as the Crew will once again try to become a force in the Eastern Conference.
For more information, visit columbuscrew.com.
Matt Ellis is a freelance photographer who covers music that happens in the city and the Columbus Crew SC home games. More photography from Matt can be found at his Instagram page.
All photos by Matt Ellis