Columbus Crew secure a 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Jack Macey
Sun, 15 Jun 2025 15:26:04 +0000
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Crew defender Mohamed Farsi (23) jokes around during warm-ups before the match Saturday. Credit: Macy Erickson | Lantern Photographer

The Crew fell 1-0 to FC Cincinnati in game one of the first round of the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs Monday night at TQL Stadium. Referees lead the Columbus Crew and Vancouver Whitecaps onto the field before their June 15, 2025 match. Credit: Macy Erickson | Lantern Photographer

Crew forward Ibrahim Aliyu (11) celebrates his early goal against Vancouver during the match Saturday. Credit: Macy Erickson | Lantern Photographer

Crew players celebrate their early first-blood goal with fans during the match Saturday. Credit: Macy Erickson | Lantern Photographer

A Nordecke drummer bears his tongue as he performs at the Crew game Saturday. Credit: Macy Erickson | Lantern Photographer

础苍诲谤é蝉 Herrera (2) loses a Vancouver Whitecaps player on Saturday. Credit: Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor

A referee signals players to stop talking as he approaches a fouled Vancouver Whitecaps player. Credit: Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor

Diego Rossi (10) speaks to a referee after a foul on a Vancouver Whitecaps player. Credit: Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor

Forward Diego Rossi (10) shoots to reclaim the Crew lead against Vancouver Saturday. Credit: Macy Erickson | Lantern Photographer

Defender 础苍诲谤é蝉 Herrera (2) downs a Vancouver Whitecaps player while chasing the ball Saturday. Credit: Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor

Crew players check on a downed teammate as a referee approaches. Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor

Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) leaps over a Vancouver player to head the ball during the match Saturday. Credit: Macy Erickson | Lantern Photographer

Defender Yevhen Cheberko (21) heads off a Vancouver free kick, securing a Crew victory. Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor

Crew players congratulate each other after securing a victory on Saturday. Daniel Bush | Campus Photo Editor

The drought is over.

The Crew picked up their first win since May 3, defeating the current league-best record-holding Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-1 Saturday night at Lower.com Field to snap the fourth-longest winless streak in franchise history.?

Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy was joyful to see his players celebrate a win after a rough month of May.?

“I think that I’m happy for the players, because obviously they were not happy regarding the last game,” Nancy said. “The spirit and the intensity during the practice was really up and tonight they showed [last game] was an accident.”?

Columbus wasted no time getting on the board, scoring in the first two minutes via the right foot of right wing Ibrahim Aliyu.?

However, Vancouver would not trail for long. Six minutes into the game, attacking midfielder Jean-Claude Ngando scored from the center of the box, tying the game at 1.?

In the 23rd minute, center forward Diego Rossi reclaimed the lead for the Crew, making the score 2-1. He was assisted by left wing Daniel Gazdag, his first assist in a Columbus uniform.?

At halftime, Columbus controlled possession for 57.5% and had a slight edge in shots at 4 to 2.?

Trailing by a goal, the Whitecaps were looking to get the equalizer early in the second half.?

In the 49th minute, left wing-back Edier Ocampo had a scoring chance from the center of the box but was denied by Crew goalkeeper Evan Bush, keeping the Columbus lead intact.

Ten minutes later, Columbus had an uncontested breakaway score that would have extended their lead, but it was waved off after an offside penalty review. Despite the Crew’s offense working its way into scoring opportunities, they would shoot themselves in the foot with two more scoring plays in the 76th and 80th minutes being negated due to offside penalties.

The Whitecaps had multiple opportunities down the stretch to tie the game, including a free kick in stoppage time, but they ultimately could not find the back of the net.

During the 90 minutes of play, Columbus controlled the ball for 57.6% of the game while Vancouver outshot it nine to eight.?

Crew center back Sean Zawadzki was pleased with the team’s defensive performance.?

“I think we did really well. We worked a lot this weekend on balls in behind,” Zawadzki said. “I think we did well managing that and kind of limiting activities with that.”?

The Crew (8-3-7) will host Atlanta United FC (4-9-5) at 7:30 p.m. June 25 at Lower.com Field.