HARRISON – The Columbus Crew dropped their third straight match Wednesday night, falling 3-2 to the New York Red Bulls in a game that felt largely lifeless until brief flashes of attacking promise from the visitors. Despite goals from Diego Rossi and Max Arfsten, Columbus once again found themselves undone by a defensive lapse — and by an opposing player enjoying a career night.

That player was Julian Hall, who delivered a clinical hat trick to power New York to all three points. Hall’s movement between the lines consistently unsettled the Crew’s back line, and his finishing punished nearly every defensive miscue. His first goal came after Columbus failed to clear their lines, the second from a well-timed run behind the defense, and the third from a loose ball inside the. penalty area from a set piece, which effectively sealed the match.

For Columbus, the defeat carries an alarming trend: this marks the second consecutive match in which they have conceded a hat trick to a single opposing player. Defensive organization, once a hallmark of their structure, has deteriorated in key moments. The Crew has struggled to manage space centrally and has appeared vulnerable when opponents attack directly at their back four.

The match itself offered long stretches of stagnant possession and limited creativity. Without a natural striker leading the line, Columbus often circulated the ball methodically but without incision. The absence of a true No. 9 was evident in the final third, where promising build-up play too often dissolved into harmless wide service or speculative efforts from distance.

Still, there were hints of hope. Rossi’s goal came from a penalty kick in the second half after a handball offense was whistled against the Red Bulls, allowing the visitors to equalize. Arfsten’s strike injected energy into the Black & Gold in the first half after giving up the early goal, briefly suggesting that the Black & Gold were finally finding their footing. During those moments and leading up to, the Crew’s attacking rhythm looked purposeful rather than predictable.

However, those flashes were too infrequent to overturn defensive frailty. New York remained opportunistic and disciplined — albeit a mass confrontation between the two MLS originals just before halftime — managing the match effectively once they were able to throw Columbus off of their game. Columbus pushed numbers forward in the closing stages but lacked the clinical presence needed to capitalize on half-chances.

What’s next?

The Columbus Crew now turn their attention to a critical road test against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. Kickoff from Chester is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. For the Crew, the matchup represents an opportunity to halt their skid — but defensive accountability and attacking clarity must improve if they hope to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.

You can watch the match on Apple TV.