Gyasi Zardes and Pedro Santos lifted the Columbus Crew to a resounding home victory at Lower.com Field, as they beat Inter Miami CF 4-0 on Saturday evening to help earn head coach Caleb Porter his 100th career MLS regular-season victory.
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Zardes' two-goal effort – coupled with a goal and two assists from Santos – kept Columbus within striking distance of the Eastern Conference's seven Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs places with five regular-season games remaining. Miami have now lost six straight for the second time this season and were shut out for the fourth game in a row, further sinking their postseason hopes.
After a slow start, Columbus beat Nick Marsman in the 40th minute through Zardes. Fresh off representing the US men's national team during October's international break, he flicked home a header off Santos' feed to make it 1-0.
Moments later, in the 44th minute, Santos scored a goal of his own. Darlington Nagbe pounced on a Gonzalo Higuain turnover from a throw-in and slipped it centrally to the Portuguese winger for a simple finish that doubled the hosts' advantage.
Then, Santos and Zardes combined once more with just over 25 minutes remaining. Santos ripped a brilliant pass from the right side to the Crew striker, who secured his brace with a bouncing header as Columbus' lead grew to 3-0. Miami then conceded an own goal in the 83rd minute through center back Leandro Gonzalez Pirez for the match's final tally.
Up next, the Crew head to Nashville on October 20 for an 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff before returning home on Saturday, October 23 to face the New York Red Bulls at 6 p.m. ET. | TICKETS AVAILABLE
