The Columbus Crew left Miami with a point earned Tuesday night, but head coach Wilfried Nancy said it felt like two points dropped at Inter Miami scored a 90th minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at DRV PNK Stadium.
“It is disappointing a bit for the players because it was not easy to play,” Nancy said afterward. “It was really hot, and the players did well. In the second half, it was a little bit more difficult, but we had the chances, and we could have scored four goals. This is not [almost] goals, this is real goals. That's why I think that we deserved to win, but the fact that we conceded this goal at the end obviously this is like we lost [two] points.”
Captain Darlington Nagbe’s golazo in the 23rd minute fired the Crew in front, as the midfielder volleyed a Miami clearance from 20 yards out past goalkeeper Drake Callender.
Mohamed Farsi nearly produced his first goal later in the half, but his 1-v-1 opportunity was cleared off the line after he rounded Callendar.
The home side produced its first of two equalizing goals in the 57th minute when Leonardo Campana nodded home a corner.
Christian Ramirez gave the Crew the lead 12 minutes later, however, through a brilliant team goal. After receiving the ball, Alex Matan dribbled in on goal, then laid it off to Cucho Hernández. The Colombian then whipped a cross toward the back post, where Ramirez was waiting to reclaim the lead.
Ramirez now has eight goals through 17 league appearances, and over the last month, he’s scored five goals across six matches. As for Cucho, that was his 10th assist this season and 14th goal contribution in the last dozen games.
Lucas Zelarayán nearly added a third for Columbus in the 68th minute, but his effort from a Cucho one-two was off target.
Josef Martínez equalized the match in the 90th minute when he scissor kicked a cross to allow the Herons to level the match and force Columbus to settle for a single point.
“We know that [protecting a late lead] is going to happen again, and we have to work like I told you,” Nancy said of conceding the late goal. “This is a bit different on that one because yes, we conceded two goals – like I told you, we could avoid that – but this is more about we had many chances.
“What I am pleased with is that we had chances, and I like that. Now, today we could have scored more but we didn't do it, but I'm pleased that we had chances. This is for me the most important. Yes, we have to score, but we had many chances. This is something that again tonight it didn't work on that one with all the chances that we had, but I know in the future we are going to be able to do better.”
The Crew returns to Lower.com Field on Saturday night when the club hosts New York City FC at 7:30 p.m. Only resale tickets are available to see the Black & Gold face an NYCFC side it drew, 1-1, last month.
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