The New England Revolution had not won in 10 matches. The Columbus Crew had not lost in six. With one result, both streaks are over.
The Revolution found a way to cool off Designated Player Federico Higuain and the red-hot Crew, earning a 2-0 home victory to snap a franchise-worst winless skid and halt Columbus' momentum in the race for a postseason berth.
Despite playing without starting strikers Saer Sene (torn ACL) and Jerry Bengtson (international duty), the Revs received valuable contributions from forwards Diego Fagundez and Dimitry Imbongo, with Fagundez' 53rd-minute shot pinging off the post to Imbongo in the center of the box, where he finished for his first MLS goal.
The game was put out of reach with a bizarre own goal in the 74th minute, as Chad Marshall attempted to head back a ball to on-rushing goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum. He then stopped in his tracks while it appeared that he had a chance to clear the ball before it bounded into the goal to give New England a 2-0 lead.
The loss keeps the Crew, which could have jumped to third place in the East with a win, at 42 points and in fifth place, level with fourth-place Houston on points (behind on the goals-scored tiebreaker) and a point ahead of sixth-place D.C. United with all three having seven matches remaining in the season.
Match highlights are after the jump:
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What did you think of the match? Surprised by the result? Are you second-guessing the Crew's playoff credentials after tonight? Still wondering what Marshall was doing on that own-goal?
Share your thoughts below.