The game in 100 words (or less): There’s no other way for Columbus Crew SC to go at this point of the 2016 season. Gregg Berhalter’s side, which entered Saturday’s clash with D.C. United bottom of the Eastern Conference, found itself less than two minutes of regular time away from breaking a six-game winless skid (two draws), but an 89th-minute equalizer from Fabian Espindola resigned the Black and Gold to yet another disappointing result. A win would have closed Crew SC’s gap to the sixth and final playoff place to just two points, but the draw sees them remain four points back of United and the New England Revolution (both on 22 points). Ola Kamara bagged the game’s opening goal, his ninth in eight games, but Crew SC’s timid defensive ways reared its ugly head once again. The shameful red card shown to Harrison Afful didn’t help matters either.
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Three moments that mattered
63′ — Kamara turns home a cross from Afful — When Crew SC were at their best last year, it was when the full backs overlapped and served in balls like this one to the center forward, another Kamara, for the close-range finish. With earlier bullets dodged, Ola made did so much on this one, with precious little angle from which to shoot.
74′ — Afful shown red for getting stomped on — I’ve been on the record as defending a lot of the early-season red cards in MLS, but Silviu Petrescu got this one all kinds of wrong. If a red was warranted on this play, it should have gone to Marcelo Sarvas.
89′ — Espindola beats Clark to equalize very late on — With four defenders surrounding him, the ball somehow fell to Espindola, who finished with authority.
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Man of the match: Wil Trapp
Goalscorers: Kamara (63′), Espindola (89′)
