10-man reserves lose to Crew, 2:1
April 7, 2012 (Official Game Summary)
The Columbus Crew downed the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in MLS Reserve League play on Saturday evening. Aaron Schoenfeld and Justin Meram tallied for the Crew, while Tyler Ruthven scored a late goal for New York to deny the Crew a shutout. Columbus played the last 13 minutes up a man after the ejection of Red Bulls midfielder Victor Palsson.
Both teams started the match strong pressing for goal. A 10th minute shot by Palsson, after a run down the right side was saved by Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson. Columbus responded two minutes later with Nemanja Vukovic crossing a ball to Ethan Finlay but the midfielder's shot went wide.
In the 21st minute New York's Jose Angulo saw his bicycle kick go barely above the crossbar while Meram took a blasting shot from the top of the box only to see Red Bulls keeper Jeremy Vuolo save it.
The second half began with the same intensity, in the 55th minute Crew defender Josh Williams deflected a shot by Corey Hertzog into corner and in the 60th Schoenfeld picked up a ball with his back to goal, turned and took a shot only to see it hit the far post.
The opening tally came in the 70th minute with Schoenfeld heading home a free kick from Vukovic to give the home team the 1-0 lead. New York tried to mount a comeback for an equalizer two minutes later but Hertzog's shot sailed high. In the 77th Palsson saw red after a hard tackle on Kevan George giving the Crew the one-man advantage.
Columbus doubled up in the 87th minute after Vukovic played a through ball to Meram who blasted a rocket past Vuolo for the 2-0 lead.
Then, in the waning moments of the match Angulo crossed a ball to Ruthven who shot it past Lampson for the 2-1 final score.
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