Zardes' fifth brace with Crew SC leads Club to first win of 2019

Following a 19-goal season in 2018,Gyasi Zardes quickly returned to mid-season form with his 20th and 21st career goals for Columbus Crew SC, as the Black & Gold defeated the New England Revolution, 2-0, on Saturday, March 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

With Saturday's win, the Crew (1-0-1, 4 pts.) have now won five of the last seven meetings with the Revolution (0-1-1, 1 pt.), keeping a clean sheet in all five victories, while snapping an eight-game road winless streak. Additionally, the Crew snapped the Revs' 12-match home opener unbeaten streak, as they entered the game unbeaten in their last four home matches (2-0-2).

The game-winning goal came in the 26th minute via a bending cross from Pedro Santos, who curled it around the initial defender before finding Zardes streaking to the back post for the easy header.

Up 1-0 in the second half, Zack Steffen delivered for Crew SC on the defensive end with a game-changing penalty save on New England's Diego Fagundez.

Following a foul in the box on Gaston Sauro, the Uruguayan stepped up to the spot and went low and to the right but well within the comfort zone of Steffen, who chose correctly for the save.

Total opportunities favored the Revs, 11-6, though the Crew outshot the Revs 4-3 in shots on target.

After coming on as an extra-time sub, Hector Jimenezreceived a pinged goal-kick from Steffen on the flank, and with a quick control touch, looked ahead to Zardes for the game-sealing delivery and Columbus' second goal of the game. Zardes brought his all-time regular-season goal total to 21 tallies in 35 regular-season appearances (all starts) for Crew SC, while Steffen, who was attributed a secondary assist on the final goal, recorded his 20th regular-season shutout.

Up next, the Black and Gold return home to face FC Dallas on Saturday, March 16 at 2 p.m. ET at MAPFRE Stadium. Supporters can watch the match on FOX Sports Ohio, stream on FOX Sports GO, or listen on 97.1 FM The Fan or www.ColumbusCrewSC.com (English & Spanish).

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Goal Scoring Rundown:

CLB – Gyasi Zardes (Pedro Santos), 26th minute: Santos curled in a ball from the left flank to the back post, as a streaking Zardes headed in the easy tally for his 20th club career goal. CLB 1, NE 0

CLB – Gyasi Zardes (Hector Jimenez, Zack Steffen), 90+6th minute: Steffen found Jimenez across the midfield line on a goal kick, and with a quick control touch in-stride, laid it off to Zardes for his fifth club career brace. CLB 2, NE 0 | FINAL

Columbus Crew SC Match Report:

Match: New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew SC
Date: March 9, 2019
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Gillette Stadium at Foxboro, Mass.
Kickoff: 2:08 p.m. ET
Weather: 40 degrees; Cloudy

Lineups:

Columbus Crew SC

New England Revolution

Stats Summary: CLB / NE

Shots: 6 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 3
Saves: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 1
Fouls: 13 / 13
Offside: 2 / 2

Misconduct Summary:

Wilfried Zahibo (NE) - 35'
Wil Trapp (CLB) - 36'
Pedro Santos (CLB) - 77'
Brandon Bye (NE) - 86'

Match Notes:

• Forward Gyasi Zardes recorded his first two goals of the 2019 regular season during today’s match against the New England Revolution. Zardes’ first goal was a header that came in the 26^th minute after getting on the end of a cross from midfielder Pedro Santos. The forward made it a brace in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, as he received a low cross from midfielder Hector Jimenez which he then put past New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton. With the two strikes in today’s match Zardes brought his all-time regular-season goal total to 21 tallies in 35 regular-season appearances (all starts) for Crew SC.
  
• Gyasi Zardes’ brace against the New England Revolution in today’s match marked the fifth time that the forward had scored at least two goals in a single match since joining the Crew In 2018, his first year with the Black & Gold, Zardes registered braces against the Montreal Impact (March 10),Chicago Fire (May 12), Orlando City SC (July 21) and one hat trick against Minnesota United FC (October 28).
  
• Zack Steffen recorded his 20^th regular-season shutout during today’s 2-0 win over the New England Revolution. The goalkeeper made three saves against the Revs – including saving a penalty kick attempt taken by Diego Fagundez – en route to earning his first clean sheet of the 2019 MLS regular season. Steffen’s penalty kick save was his his first regular-season penalty kick save since saving an attempt taken by New York City FC’s David Villa at Citi Field (October 22, 2017). Steffen also managed to get on the scoresheet, as he provided a secondary assist on Gyasi Zardes’ goal in second-half stoppage time. The assist was Steffen’s second helper since joining the Black & Gold, as he had previously been awarded a secondary assist during a home against the Montreal Impact (June 24, 2017).
  
• Midfielder Pedro Santos recorded the game-winning assist in today’s road contest against the New England Revolution, as he provided the cross on Gyasi Zardes’ 26^th-minute goal. The helper was Santos’ first assist of the 2019 regular season, as well as his 10^th all-time regular-season assist for the Black & Gold. Since joining the Crew, Santos has made 41 regular-season appearances (39 starts), while scoring one goal to go with his 10 assists.
  
• Midfielder Hector Jimenez made his 2019 regular-season debut in today’s match, coming in as a substitute for Pedro Santos in the third minute of second half stoppage time. Jimenez made an immediate impact, as he provided the assist on Gyasi Zardes’ second goal of the day just three minutes after taking to the field, helping the Black & Gold to a 2-0 victory. This was Jimenez’s 15^th assist in 103 regular-season appearances (67 starts) for the Black & Gold. Additionally, the helper was Jimenez’s 21^st assist since joining MLS in 2011.
  
• Today’s contest marked Crew SC’s 73^rd all-time regular-season contest against the New England Revolution dating back to 1996. Over that span, Columbus has compiled an overall winning record of 37-23-13 against the Revs. The Crew has an overall regular-season road record of 17-15-6 against New England. Today’s Crew SC victory marked the first time the Revs have lost a regular-season home opening match since April 30, 2006.
  
• Crew SC has won five of its last seven regular-season meetings against the New England Revolution dating back to August 20, 2016. Over that span, the Black & Gold have posted a record of 5-1-1, keeping a clean sheet in each win. Columbus last lost to New England in regular-season action on May 21, 2017
  
• With the win against the New England Revolution in today’s match, Crew SC’s 2019 regular-season record is now 1-0-1 (4 points). Next up, Crew SC return to MAPFRE Stadium for a home contest against FC Dallas on Saturday, March 16 [2:00 p.m. ET / FOX Sports Ohio, FOX Sports GO (Stream) / 97.1 The Fan & 971thefan.com (English) / ColumbusCrewSC.com (Spanish)]