New York City FC Goals: Hannes Wolf 12’, 16’, 66’
Columbus Crew Goals:
Quick Read
New York City FC roared back to winning ways with a superb 3-0 triumph over Columbus Crew. Hannes Wolf hit a hattrick in the Bronx to mark his return to action in style, while the hosts’ defense held firm at Yankee Stadium with a fine clean sheet performance, to clinch the Club’s first league victory since mid-March.
Match Recap
Sunday’s clash saw two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last eight opponents go head-to-head ten days before their Quarterfinal matchup - but with both sides eager to climb the Eastern Conference table, this weekend’s MLS meeting held more immediate importance.
Pascal Jansen opted for three changes to the side that faced D.C. United last time out, as Wolf, Tayvon Gray (back from suspension), and Keaton Parks replaced Strahinja Tanasijevic, Aiden O'Neill, and Talles Magno.
New York signaled their intent from the very first minute, calling Crew shot-stopper Patrick Schulte into instant action, as Maxi Moralez headed Agustín Ojeda’s floated delivery goalward - but the looping effort was comfortable for the Columbus ‘keeper.
It did not take long for the hosts to break the deadlock however, as Jansen’s men opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a quick burst forward. Lively throughout the opening 45, Ojeda latched onto Nicolás Fernández’s through-ball down the right, and smartly cut back for Wolf, who clipped the perfect first-time finish past Schulte to note his comeback from injury with a goal.
Four minutes later, it was 2-0 - Wolf doubling the advantage and his personal tally with a brilliant quickfire brace. Again, the hosts found joy down the flank - this time, down the left - and again, Fernández was involved. Collecting Nico Cavallo‘s inch-perfect pass on the byline, the Argentine crossed for Wolf, who fired home his 20th New York goal - and fourth in two games against the Crew.
Wolf thought he’d struck a first-half hat-trick after just 26 minutes, slotting home Maxi Moralez’s delicate clip forward - only to be denied by the offside flag. Moralez himself then bent a half-volley just over the crossbar, as the home side laid siege to the Columbus goal.
Fernández then came within inches of making it three - first racing onto Wolf’s through-ball, after Kai Trewin had done well to win back possession, and drilling a low effort just wide of the far post, before then sliding in to try and meet Ojeda’s teasing cross.
From the outset, New York quelled the Crew’s offensive threat, holding the line well and limiting the visitors to hopeful shots from range. André Gomes had tried his luck with an ambitious attempt, but the effort had dragged harmlessly wide. That had been the visitors’ brightest moment of the first period up until three minutes before the break, when Matt Freese thwarted Diego Rossi from Max Arfsten’s cutback.
Desperate for a route back into the game, Henrik Rydström’s Crew attacked with more purpose after the break - but the hosts’ defense proved impenetrable, battling to block every effort. Arfsten perhaps should have done better with an attempt at the far post, but skewed his shot wide.
Eager to mark his 100th regular season appearance with a clean sheet, Freese then produced a superb stop to deny Rudy Camacho, palming away a powerful header, and the home side heeded the warning, and sought to seal the points.
Raul Gustavo went close, heading straight at Schulte after rising well to meet a corner - but Wolf would make it three to complete his hattrick on 66’ with a glorious finish. Fernández kept the ball alive after Colorado could only clear Cavallo’s cross to the edge of the box, and Wolf arrowed home for his treble, capping an excellent afternoon’s work for the Austrian, who left the field on 85’ to a standing ovation.
Ojeda could have made it four, racing clear through on goal - only to be thwarted with a last-ditch challenge by Sean Zawadzki - while Malachi Jones also stung the palms of Schulte in the dying embers, but little could dampen the spirits of the Boys in Blue on a brilliant afternoon in the Bronx.
The triumph snapped New York’s seven-game winless league run in emphatic fashion, setting Jansen’s men back on track ahead of a crunch four-game road stretch and upcoming Open Cup Quarterfinal.
How We Lined Up
Man of the Match
What’s Next
Next up for New York City FC is a trip to Charlotte FC on Wednesday, May 13. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:15PM ET at the Bank of America Stadium.
