The last time that the Columbus Crew won an MLS contest was July 19. Since then, the Black & Gold were 0-1-2 in league play, having scored one goal in each of those three starts. On Saturday, that goal per game average dropped, as neither Columbus nor the New York Red Bulls scored in a 0-0 draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Defense dominated. The Crew were only able to get three shots on goal in the match, none in the first half. New York managed only six shots toward the net. The best chance for Columbus to score was on a Diego Rossi attempt from inside the box in the 59th minute, but it missed just outside the right goalpost. 

“This is a game sometimes like this when we had one big chance that we have to score, we know that; we didn’t do it,” said Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy after the match. “At this type of moment, this is a playoff game. We tried to attack, but also, they are in a position that is really aggressive and, they did a really good job on that.”

Columbus does not play again until Saturday, Sept. 13 when they travel to Atlanta for a match with the Five Stripes beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Crew are idle this upcoming week because of the FIFA International window. With Saturday’s draw, Columbus is now in a tie for the sixth spot in the MLS Eastern Conference.