Columbus Crew 3- Orlando City SC 2
Orlando took the lead early when midfielder Sacha Kjlestan finished off a redirected cross in the box in the 16th minute. Columbus got back into the match in the 51st minute though when Gyazi Zardes connected off a cross delivered into the box by Niko Hansen to make it 1-1. But they only stayed level for a handful of minutes as Stefano Pinho gave the Purple Lions the lead again with his goal in the 58th minute.
It appeared at that point as if Orlando head back down South with the three points. But as they have done all season long Columbus found a little bit of luck and a little bit of magic late. After securing a penalty kick opportunity off of an R.J. Allen foul in the 88th minute, Zardes buried his second of the match into the back of the net to put both sides at two.
Columbus continued to press Orlando into the match’s dying moments. They were rewarded in the fourth minute of injury time when Trapp had a little bit space in the Orlando defensive third. Trapp pressed forward and hit a rocket of a shot with seconds left, going far post past an outstretched Joe Bendik to earn the game-winner.
With the win Columbus (9-7-6, 33 points) further solidified their hold on fourth place in the Eastern Conference, moving five points ahead of the Montreal Impact (9-12-1, 28 points). As for Orlando (7-12-1, 22 points) the loss was their second of the week after the club was eliminated 1-0 in the U.S. Open Cup.
Please enjoy some of our photos from the match courtesy of photographer Julie Jackson. Make sure to give her a follow on Twitter and on Instagram. Also, you can check out all of her work from the 2018 season on SmugMug.
Columbus Crew
