Frustrations aplenty in Columbus as NYCFC lose 4-2

The third time was not the charm for New York City FC as they suffered a third loss to Columbus Crew in 2024, a contentious 4-2 defeat at Lower.com Field on Matchday 27.

This was a high-scoring game packed with storylines yet one that also followed a familiar script. New York City again jumped out to a very early lead through an Alonso Martínez goal, and again went toe-to-toe with Columbus but failed to stop their potent, efficient attack, with the Crew's Diego Rossi scoring in the 17th minute then assisting on Max Arfsten's goal to put NYCFC down a goal in the 59th minute.

That go-ahead Columbus goal became a bit of a turning point for New York City, as they dominated the run of play while looking for an equalizer and eventually got one in the 86th minute from substitute striker Mounsef Bakrar.

That 2-2 scoreline didn't last long, as DeJuan Jones would find a late winner for the hosts at 90'+3' in what turned out to be a controversial scoring sequence, with Julián Fernández sent off at that same moment in the match with a straight red card for reportedly making contact with an official.

After the match, NYCFC Head Coach Nick Cushing repeatedly said referee Ted Unkel impeded Fernández's attempts to defend during the Jones goal, with the long-tenured MLS ref also drawing sharp criticism from midfielder Keaton Parks.

Columbus added a 90'+10' cherry-on-top goal from Jacen Russell-Rowe to seal a 10-player New York City's fate, making it an 0-for-3 for Cushing's team when facing the current holders of MLS Cup and Leagues Cup so far this season.

It's now been six league games since New York City's last win, the July 3 win at Citi Field vs. CF Montréal. This loss was also another example of NYCFC conceding crushing late goals, as they did in the 2-2 draw with Chicago Fire on Matchday 26, and in the 4-2 loss to FC Cincinnati in the Leagues Cup group stage.

Adversity after adversity

The latest installment of The Early Show with El Clínico, Martínez's goal in the fourth minute, was overshadowed a bit when Matt Freese went down with a leg injury shortly after. He was substituted off and replaced by Luis Barraza in the 12th minute, now throwing into question the availability of a player who has arguably been the team's MVP to this point in the season.

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James Sands also had to be removed from this match late in the first half due to concussion concerns after taking a blow to the head, seeing NYCFC lose two vital players while locked in a pretty even first half.

Those two players have been instrumental in New York City's successful 2024 to date. This wasn't a match decided by mistakes from either of the replacements for Freese or Sands, but their absences still loomed large in a tight second half.

Crew make the most of opportunities

Columbus pounced once they forced NYCFC into mistakes or turnovers, and generated and finished their best chances of the night. The Crew did not have the bulk of possession as they frequently do‚ but they were the team cashing in the big opportunities that came their way.

New York City conversely wasted a few good second-half looks in front of Patrick Schulte's goal, failing to even test the keeper with shots on target when clean opportunities were set up for each of Santiago Rodríguez, Hannes Wolf, and Mounsef Bakrar at different points.

That proved a difference-maker, as even though Bakrar did draw NYCFC level late, they'd had chances to be instead leading Columbus and looking for an upset road win. Instead, the Crew only needed one more moment to swing the result into another win for the league's hottest team.

Officiating again under scrutiny

Ted Unkel was not a popular figure at Lower.com Field, with members of New York City calling him out post-match for his positioning and alleged interference with Julián Fernández on DeJuan Jones's winning goal, and for his overall handling of the game.

Unkel and his assistants had both teams in their ears with complaints and looking for calls throughout the match. The match officials also held a lengthy VAR check over whether or not to award Columbus a penalty kick when a shot toward Luis Barraza's goal deflected off Kevin O'Toole and out for a corner.

Columbus players and home fans wanted O'Toole punished for handball, but the review initiated by Drew Fischer did not result in Unkel awarding a penalty.

The New York City complaints intensified with the winning Crew goal and Fernández's sending-off, an incident that was completely missed in terms of replays on the AppleTV broadcast of the match.

The officiating again became a storyline during a meeting between New York City and Columbus. Remember in June, PRO Referees issued a statement retroactively saying that Columbus should not have been given a penalty kick, which decided the game in their favor, when these teams played at Yankee Soccer Stadium on June 14.

New York City hasn't had an easy time playing Columbus this season and that's included some questionable handling of games and important game situations by the match officials, though that's likely of little comfort as NYCFC heads into a two-week international break with another loss to the Crew.