Takeaways: How Columbus Crew avoided an Orlando City SC comeback in 4-3 victory
When it comes to facing Orlando City SC late in the season, the Crew have come to expect a tight battle up until the final whistle. The most recent game between the two clubs met those expectations.
The Crew picked up a 4-3 victory at Lower.com Field on Saturday, flipping the script from last year's September match, in which Columbus allowed a comeback and fell 4-3. Orlando did, on multiple occasions, attempt to make a comeback reminiscent of what the club was able to pull off last season, but fell short.
Replay: Columbus Crew hold off Orlando City SC comeback, record 4-3 victory
From kickoff to the 71-minute mark, when striker Cucho Hernandez scored to take a 3-0 advantage, the Crew were in control of the match. Seven minutes after Hernandez's goal, Orlando cut the lead to 3-2.
"They showed that they fight until the end," Crew forward Chrisitan Ramirez said. "They make everything difficult. They try to be real physical, and I think we did a good job of managing it and moving the ball quickly to not allow them to make the game choppy."
The Crew's difference maker was forward Aziel Jackson.
Playing Orlando for the first time since joining the Crew back in July, Jackson scored what first was an insurance goal in the 85th minute. The insurance goal would become the game-winning goal when Orlando scored to make it 4-3 seven minutes into stoppage time.
More: Columbus Crew's Aziel Jackson brings passion for soccer and art
Jackson, much to his surprise, was also credited with two assists against Orlando. The first was awarded on Ramirez's goal to give Columbus a 2-0 lead in the second half, and the second came off Hernandez's goal. On both those goals, Crew midfielder Max Arfsten was also credited with an assist.
"He’s (Jackson) doing good," Arfsten said. "He's a good player to play with obviously, he's good to combine with. So, I think (Saturday) was a good performance for him and more's to come."
Aziel Jackson gets first goal with Columbus Crew under his 'belt' vs Orlando City SC
Jackson admitted there was a sense of relief that overcame him when he took his third shot attempt of the game from the middle of Orlando's box and found the back of the net. The 22-year-old, who made his third start for the club, had a feeling that this was the game he was scoring his first goal with the Crew.
"I mean, just the whole transition of getting traded, I never got traded during the season like I did," Jackson said. "I was happy to come to Columbus, because I wanted to come here since (playing for) Minnesota. So, it was just good to get the first one under my belt."
Looking at the work that Jackson has put in both his game appearances and trainings, Crew coach Wilfried Nancy had a similar feeling that Jackson was due to find offensive success.
"He has good quality. That’s why he is with us," Nancy said. "I want him to be more consistent with that. The goal that he scored, this is the reward of the work that he did the last three weeks, simple as that. If I put the goal on the side, he did a good game. ... I'm happy for him because now step by step, he understands why I gave him a lot of challenges."
Columbus Crew penalty that led to Orlando City SC goal: 'The fourth referee was also surprised'
On the first goal Orlando scored on Saturday, it was clear that the front line of Ivan Angulo and Ramiro Enrique outplayed the Crew defense. With goalkeeper Patrick Schulte occupied with Angulo's shot attempt, it left the goal wide open for Enrique to score when Angulo's shot ricocheted off the goalpost.
Orlando's second goal came off a penalty kick from forward Luis Muriel, and the Crew feel the events leading up to the penalty kick were questionable. Inside Columbus' box, midfielder Yaw Yeboah was handed a yellow card for a foul against Angulo.
Multiple Crew players, including captain Darlington Nagbe argued with official Sergii Boiko about the call. Nancy, from his perspective, agreed with the players on the field.
"The fourth referee was also surprised," Nancy said. "For me this is not a PK, but I have to watch again. I will not talk about the referee because I'm going to be fined."
Columbus Crew's depth evident vs Orlando City SC
The Crew had six players credited with a goal contribution. Five of those players had two or more goal contributions.
Along with Arfsten, Jackson, Hernandez and Ramirez, forward Diego Rossi recorded the first goal of the match off assists from Ramirez and Mo Farsi. Along with scoring his third goal against Orlando this season, and his 11th overall, Rossi also recorded an assist on Ramirez's goal.
"It’s plug and play," Ramirez said. "Whoever’s in there, we play off of each other, move into spaces that are open, knowing the structure that we’re using in a certain game, making sure that someone is occupying the correct space and then exploiting spaces that are left by the defense."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew defeat Orlando City SC 4-3 in tight battle: Takeaways
