Lucas Zelarayán  celebrates one of his goals. (© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Scoring the first goal of the game in the opening minutes won’t necessarily mean a win for a team.

Just ask New York City FC.

The Cityzens got on the scoreboard in the fourth minute, but couldn’t hold the lead en route to a 3-2 loss to the Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio Saturday night.

Lucas Zelarayán snapped a 2-2 tie in the 75th minute for the game-winner goal before 18,609 spectators.

City (12-5-6, 42 points) remained in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference behind the Philadelphia Union (12-3-9, 45). Fifth-place Columbus (33) improved to 8-6-9.

Defensive problems plagued NYCFC for a good portion of the match.

“Of course we are disappointed in the result, but I think we tried to play our style today,” interim head coach Nick Cushing said. “I think we did this very well to be honest, but we gave away cheap goals and that’s how it is sometimes. We tried everything but we couldn’t get another goal, but in my opinion I think we deserve a draw.

“We need to defend the goals better. That is how it is sometimes, you are one step too late.”

Being a step late can be devastating in MLS.

City took a 1-0 lead in the fourth minute on a Columbus own goal. It turned out to be the first time NYCFC lost after scoring the opening goal since a loss to the New England Revolution on Sept. 12, 2021.

Gabriel Pereira found Malte Amundsen in space. Amundsen’s cross took a wicked deflection off Crew defender Jonathan Mensah that sent the ball past a goalkeeper Eloy Room.

The hosts drew even in the 20th minute on Cucho Hernandez’s goal. Luis Diaz’s pullback found Hernández making a late run into the box and his low effort found its way into the bottom corner past keeper Sean Johnson for a 1-1 tie.

The Crew grabbed a 2-1 edge in the 27th minute as a turnover in the defensive third in the 27th minute allowed Zelarayán an opening and he curled it past Johnson.

“Of course the second goal we are disappointed in but we are going to make mistakes the way I want the team to play,” Cushing said. “We just got to make sure we go out on the training pitch and minimize how many times they happen.”

Pereira thought he had found the equalizer in the 36th minute after some fine interplay that allowed Héber to fire a low cross from the left. Pereira rushed in, but his effort was saved at point-plank range by Room.

Pereira, however, did get his goal in the 64th minute as his deflected shot hit paydirt for a 2-2 deadlock.

That set up Zelarayán’s game-winner as he fouund himself unmarked in the penalty area as he drove his effort into the bottom corner.

Center back Alex Callens was forced from the game in the 73rd minute with an injury. He was replaced by Maxime Chanot.

“We will hand him over to the medical team,” Cushing said. “He came off with a little lower leg pain. We will let them do their job and as soon as we get updates we will communicate them.”

 

 

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.