The Columbus Crew suffered a 2-1 defeat at home against the New England Revolution Saturday night, the team’s sixth loss of the 2025 MLS regular season, and second consecutive loss at home in MLS play. Leo Campana and Ignatius Ganago struck for the visitors in the first half. Dániel Gazdag clawed a goal back in the second half, but the Black & Gold were not able to find an equalizer. With the result, the Crew remains in 6th place in the Eastern Conference standings with 45 points, while the Revolution remains in 11th place, increasing its point total to 31 on the campaign.  

Ibrahim Aliyu nearly opened the scoring for the Black & Gold in the 14th minute. A quick play saw Dylan Chambost receive a pass from Taha Habroune in the 18-yard box and simultaneously shift his body while redirecting the ball first-time into the path of Aliyu. Despite getting to the ball before Matt Turner, his right-footed shot fell just wide of the left post. 

Keeping up the momentum, Gazdag tested Turner minutes later from a similar position. Diego Rossi found Gazdag with a driven, threaded through ball into the 18-yard box. Gazdag, rapidly approaching the right corner of the 6-yard box, shot the ball first-time with his right foot across the goal. Turner stayed poised at the near post, diving to shield his net from the goal threat.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 25th minute. Luca Langoni drove along the edge of the 18-yard box for the Revs, with Sean Zawadzki tailing him closely. Langoni fired in a low ball across the box, which was met by the right foot of Campana, who swiftly tucked the ball into the back of the net before the oncoming threat of Andres Herrera could close him down. 

New England capitalized on a breakaway chance in the 39th minute, doubling their lead and stronghold on the match. Mamadou Fofana played a long ball over the Black & Gold defense from behind the halfway line, with the ball falling into Ganago’s path. Aided by a bounce that pushed the ball further upfield and out of the Crew defenders’ reach, Ganago stretched out his right leg to poke the ball past Patrick Schulte. 

In the 43rd minute, Schulte held his ground to foil a chance from the Revs. Carlos Gil curled a cross from right field near the halfway line toward Langoni, who yet again found himself through on goal, driving toward the penalty area. Langoni attempted a low, chipped shot to the left of Schulte, but Columbus’ shotstopper reacted quickly, going to ground and blocking the attempt with his right hand.

Just before halftime, Schulte prevented a big opportunity from the visitors to increase the deficit to three goals. Gil set up Ilay Feingold with a precise through ball toward the right of the 6-yard box. Feingold struck the ball first-time with his right foot, aiming an upward, powerful strike between Schulte and the near post. Schulte dove to push the ball out for a corner, thwarting the chance. 

In the 56th minute, the Black & Gold’s newest addition, Wessam Abou Ali, entered the field for the first time as a Crew player. Met with roars of enthusiasm from the enthralled crowd, the Palestinian international forward sought to turn the Black & Gold’s fortune as his side searched for a foothold back into the match. 

Just three minutes after Head Coach Wilfried Nancy reshaped his lineup with a triple substitution, Gazdag halved the deficit in the 71st minute. Malte Amundsen played a left-footed cross into the 18-yard box from the left flank. Abou Ali looked poised to strike the ball, swinging his leg as it neared him, but Gazdag stormed in and got the final touch, firmly guiding the ball into the bottom right corner of the net to bring the score to 2-1.

Despite several near chances to close out the match, the game finished as a loss for the Black & Gold, who struggled to take advantage of opportunities in the final third. It was a deflating outcome given the buzz surrounding Abou Ali’s introduction and what looked like a prime chance to climb the Eastern Conference standings against a lower-ranked side. The Black & Gold now face a stretch of three contests away from home, before returning to Lower.com Field on Saturday, September 20th, to face Toronto FC. 

The Black & Gold plays its next match away from home against New York Red Bulls on Saturday, August 30th at 7:30 p.m. ET.