Jacen Russell-Rowe scored his second goal in as many games and the Columbus Crew continued their perfect start to the new campaign with a 1-0 victory at the New England Revolution on Saturday night in Foxborough, Mass.
Patrick Schulte made two saves to preserve his first clean sheet and help the Crew (2-0-0) to their first away victory of the season and extend their away unbeaten run to nine matches in league play.
It was also Columbus’ fourth straight victory over New England. Former Crew manager Caleb Porter assumed the reins at the Revolution (0-1-1, 1 point) before the start of last season.
After playing to a scoreless draw at Nashville SC in their opener, the Revs were outshot 9-4 overall and 3-2 in efforts on target.
Columbus weren’t exactly dominant in their first away match and only their second since the departures of strikers Cucho Hernandez to Real Betis and Christian Ramirez to the LA Galaxy.
Even so, they were deserving victors again after rallying to defeat Chicago 4-2 in their home opener a week ago.
Afforded more playing time in the absence of Hernandez and Ramirez, Russell-Rowe put Columbus in front in the 51st minute on one of the few free flowing counterattacks of the night.
Dylan Chambost found space near the center circle and pushed the ball forward to Mo Farsi on the right, and Farsi slotted a low early cross toward the left corner of the penalty arc.
Russell-Rowe met it there, took a touch into the penalty area and then slotted an excellent right-footed finish that beat Aljaz Ivacic’s dive to the bottom right corner.
New England had been arguably the more enterprising team to that point, but once Columbus got in front they defended by hoarding possession.
The Revs thought they’d been given a lifeline when referee Filip Dujic pointed to the spot for a handball after Carles Gil’s free kick struck Chambost.
But Dujic reversed his decision after consulting video replays, which suggested the ball struck Chambost in the upper abdomen under his arm.
–Field Level Media
