Late Olave goal splits spoils with Crew, 2:2
May 26, 2013

2:2
New York Columbus
Henry
Olave
Oduro
Higuain
05.26.13 · League

It's not often that a point rescued in the last minute feels so unsatisfying. And yet, this one clearly does. Playing at home against a Columbus team missing its first-team defense, anything but a win -- and only a win -- could be considered a success. Instead, Metro had to settle for a point after Jamison Olave scored an injury time equalizer to end the match in a 2:2 draw.

Dax McCarty was finally deemed healthy to start, so Juninho went to the bench. Roy Miller made way on the left of the defense for Heath Pearce.

The Crew struck just two minutes into the match. A poor clearance by Olave left the ball with ex-Metro Eddie Gaven, who passed it off to Dominic Oduro. The Metro reject got into the penalty area and slotted home past Luis Robles.

Metro tied the game in the 31st. A looping ball by Tim Cahill fooled a Crew defender, and landed at the feet of Titi Henry. Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum came out of the net, and the French ubermensch masterfully chipped him from the edge of the penalty area.

Later in the first half, another poor clearance by Olave led to Justin Meram firing just wide. He also fired wide in the 74th minute... but somehow, Kosuke Kimura was called for a foul that clearly came after the shot was taken. A penalty kick was called. This time, Federico Higuain, who was stopped by Robles earlier this season, did not miss.

With the late lead, the Crew decided to put ten men behind the ball and try to hold off the charge. And Metro did finally wake up. Henry got the ball with his back to the net and laid it off to Juninho, whose shot went straight at Gruenebaum. A late corner led to a scramble in the penalty area, as the ball went off Fabian Espindola's back and then Olave's head, but was cleared off line.

Then, a minute into injury time, Jonny Steele flicked a ball into the penalty area that was met by Olave. The beastly defender switched to his left foot and fired into the upper left corner. A point was rescued.

And that point almost became three soon after. The whole Metro team rushed up the field, and Juninho got the ball at the doorstep. The Brazilian hesitated, and the Crew cleared the ball out of danger.

Oh well. Seven games without a loss does sound pretty good... even if this one felt so unsatisfying.

Lineup: Robles, Pearce, Olave, Holgersson, Kimura, McCarty, Steele, Alexander, Cahill, Espindola, Henry. Subs: Juninho, Sam.

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