Football
2019 Major League Soccer, Regular Season
ORL 
1
FT
 CLB
0
Reuters 5y

Orlando City gets past Columbus

Benji Michel's 84th-minute goal sent Orlando City SC to a 1-0 win at home over the struggling Columbus Crew Saturday night.

The 21-year-old forward put away his first career Major League Soccer goal on a cross from teammate Ruan, whose run with the ball down the right flank was set up by a ball from teammate Lamine Sane.

The Lions have points from three of their last five matches and moved into the seventh position in the Eastern Conference standings, which would put them in the postseason.

The Crew pressed for the equalizer in the final minutes. Lions goalkeeper Brian Rowe kept his team in front with a critical save of Harrison Afful's shot in the 88th minute, and moments later Afful's cross found Gyasi Zardes in the first minute of added time of the second half, but Zardes headed the ball down instead of on target.

Zardes also missed wide with another header before the final whistle.

Columbus, which is winless in nine straight games with five consecutive losses, had one last chance with a man advantage after Orlando City's Dom Dwyer was sent off for a violent challenge in extra time. But the Crew couldn't convert off a corner kick.

Zardes, the Crew's leading goal scorer in his first game since scoring four goals in the Concacaf Gold Cup, hit the crossbar in the fifth minute for the Crew's best chance of the first half. The Crew outshot Orlando City 11-4, had more possessions and took 10 corner kicks to the Lions' one, but could not get a result.

The Crew lost center back Gaston Sauro to what appeared to be a hamstring injury in the first half, replaced by 19-year-old Aboubacar Keita, making his second career appearance.

Orlando City was without Nani, its leading scorer with eight goals, due to food poisoning. The Lions also played without midfielder Sacha Kljestan, out due to suspension.

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