How does five minutes equal eight minutes? Only in soccer and in the unpredictable league that is the MLS! In the 98th minute Sean Zawadzki scored a curling header to salvage a draw for the Crew in the Saturday night match against New England (NER)!
98th MINUTE MAGIC FROM @zawadzki_sean 😱#Crew96 | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/1no2G1KU7M
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) April 16, 2023
With the FC Cincinnati loss New England leap frogs into first place in the East while Columbus stays in 4th. Even going down to ten men, New England thought they had the game won. But a late VAR review, which took roughly 2 minutes and 43 seconds, seemed to have been added to the announced stoppage time of five minutes. And in that time, Crew finally added the equalizer in the waning moments of the match.
NER coach Bruce Arena was incensed at the time and was given a yellow card. But it was his interview later that was almost as intense as the game itself!
Crew and Revolution Line Ups
The hardest working team in America 📋#Crew96 | @EaseLogistics pic.twitter.com/AfjbDQ2zAz
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) April 15, 2023
First half
The crew started out in a 3-4-2-1 formation with the Revolution a 4-2-3-1 look. The first good chance of the game for NE was in the 12’. A nice through ball to the Italian Striker, Giacomo Vrioni, and his strike is barely touched wide by Crew goalie, Patrick Schulte. It would be one of many on the night for the back up keeper.
Near the 30’ Columbus had a free kick left of the NE box and they tried some trickery. Instead of a cross in Alexandru Matan struck a low one that striker Christian Ramirez seemed to back touch to Lucas Zelarayan who’s rifle shot sailed just high.
Vrioni seemed to time runs that often frustrated the Crew’s defense. In the 39′ he quickly outraced the centerbacks to a ball just over his shoulder, then tried to chip it over Schulte. The ball struck the top of the bar and somehow bounced back into the pitch!
The break came at a good time for both sides to rethink the 0-0 first half.
Second Half
The first 15 minutes seemed to be all New England and it finally led to the first goal. Early on NER captain Carles Gil had an attempt that Schulte saved initially but the ball caromed away from him. Borrero was there just beating the defender and the keeper for a cheeky chip that just missed the mark.
Then Gil again took a shot but somehow Schulte was there to parry it away. Schulte had eight saves on the night! But at the 58’ all that pressure finally wilted the Crew defense.
Gil started this sequence with a pass to an overlapping Borrero run on the Crew’s right side of the box. Looking into the box, he lifted a cross headed for Vrioni. Crew defender, Milos Degenek, jumped between the ball and striker, found the ball with his right foot. But the ball bounced off his left knee and went backwards into the net for an own goal.
Just three minutes later again it was almost 2-0 NE, but a kick save by Shulte, last season’s MLS NextPro goalie of the year, saved the club from a sure loss!
Red Card New England!
Dylan Borrero, the talented Rev player, was chirping all night at the refs for what he thought were missed calls for his club. He received his first yellow for dissent around the 58th minute. But in the 65’, Borrero made a sliding tackle that the ref thought was dangerous. He showed the young Colombian a second yellow card, which kicked in the automatic red card. New England was now down to 10 men.
65' Mo Farsi is down and in significant pain. Red card issued to Dylan Borrero
— Bailey Johnson (@BaileyAJohnson_) April 16, 2023
Now, the game started to turn Columbus’ way. Here’s a brief look by minute:
80th – Matan jumped on the end of a short cross. He went right, then fed his left foot. HIs low, curling ball is saved by Petrovic.
What a save from Djordje Petrovic to keep #NERevs in front. Into stoppage time now.
Watch live NOW for free on #MLSSeasonPass on @AppleTV: https://t.co/qemuKQJG0J pic.twitter.com/g9dKffq2P7
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 16, 2023
87th – Zelarayan’s shot glances off the head of a defender and almost goes in! It just bounced off the top of the bar!
Phantom HandBall
89th – A pivotal moment of the game: the Crew worked a cross into the box that appeared to bounce off the hand of a Revolution defender. From roughly 89:11 to 91:54 VAR looked the play over. And the video assistant referee deemed it NOT a hand ball foul.
But with the timing of the foul and the announcement of five added minutes, one couldn’t tell if the five included the 2:43 seconds or not. Arena didn’t. In fact, he wasn’t a fan of the fourth ref all game and questioned his yellow card after the Crew game:
“I don’t know why I got a yellow card at the end of the game. The fourth official was pretty useless the entire game and for some reason, she then voiced her opinion 98 and a half minutes into the game.”
(When is the last time you heard, “Phony Baloney?” Ask Arena.) Arena did make an interesting point. If VAR is to check for fouls that are clear and obvious, why does it take almost three minutes to view a clear and obvious foul? Taylor Twellman, a long time footballer and commentator, agreed.
For those asking about the extra time in Columbus. Bruce Arena’s point still stands however about “clear & obvious”…why does that need 3 minutes of a review if it isn’t “clear & obvious”. #NERevs #Crew96 https://t.co/ZQNSOPRbLm
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) April 16, 2023
But still the match went into the crazy, unpredictable world of MLS stoppage time.
Stoppage Time issues
With the timing of the VAR check crossing the 90 minute mark, there still has to be a *minimum* of 5 minutes played once the game is restarted. Restart at 90+2:17, goal at 90+7:42. Not particularly scandalous. #CLBvNE
— MLS Referee Stats (@MLSRefStats) April 16, 2023
But that also doesn’t include all the time wasting on the part of every team with the lead during this time. Why not just play? Almost always seems to give more time for some magic for the hometown club, eh?
The Goal
Sean Zawadzki came on in the stoppage time to replace Darlington Nagbe.
Crew Substitution:
Sean Zawadzki 🔄 Darlington Nagbe#Crew96 | @meijer pic.twitter.com/Ux5dY1gQzE
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) April 16, 2023
Zawadzki, a native of Olmsted Falls who played collegiately at Georgetown, has been with the club as part of the MLS Next Pro program. Since the red card, the Crew owned the possession time. Now, could they produce a game tying-goal in the time that seemed to kill them last year? Could the last Crew sub get onto a ball and help the club?
Zelarayan, trying to make magic, crossed a spinning ball into the box. Sean had a good read on it and headed it towards the right corner of the net. Petrovic was shaded that way, but went left with his first movement. With the ball in the air Petrovic seemed to grasp that he needed to get to the right but was too late.
The crowd went ballistic!
98th MINUTE MAGIC FROM @zawadzki_sean 😱#Crew96 | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/1no2G1KU7M
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) April 16, 2023
The point for each team was well earned on this fabulous soccer night in America! Crew fans finally went home happy, unlike last year’s seemingly endless late draws or losses.
Next Game
The Crew head to Charlotte for a Saturday evening match against the Charlotte Football Club.
New England will host Sporting KC next weekend.
Just a month away from the match with FC Cincinnati and the first installment of #HELLISREAL! I cannot wait!
Jeremy
April 16, 2023 at 9:11 pm
This article has incorrect information. Borrero was first cautioned for dissent in the 58th minute and received a second caution for unsporting behavior (the slide tackle) in the 65th minute. The challenge WAS the second caution.
Bill Petrello
April 16, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Thanks for reading. You are correct and the article has been amended. Appreciate the check!