The Columbus Crew were in Harrison, New Jersey Wednesday to take on the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium. It was the second of the Black & Gold’s three-match swing on the East Coast. The teams went back and forth with the Red Bulls coming away with a 3-2 win. Here are our three takeaways from Wednesday’s action:

1.    For the second straight match, the Crew gave up a hat trick and didn’t allow anyone else to score. After being shut out by NYCFC at Yankee Stadium Saturday, they at least came within one goal of the three scored against them. On Wednesday, it was homegrown attacker Julian Hall who found the net thrice. Hall, who leads the Red Bulls with nine goals, became the youngest player in MLS history to score a hat trick at 18 years and 50 days old.

2.   Head coach Henrik Ryström once again addressed his team’s inability to defend set pieces. Hall scored his third goal on a rebound off a corner quick. “Another set piece goal against,” Rydström pointed out after the match. “I think it’s the fourth time we lose the game on a set piece goal. In that sense it repeats itself. Obviously, we haven’t fixed it. I can look at that.”

3.   Diego Rossi scored on a penalty kick in the 64th minute to tie the score at 2-2. He is now tied for the team lead with five goals. Rossi, however, didn’t start the match. He sat in favor of homegrown defender Owen Presthus, who earned the start in his MLS debut. Controversy? Rydström says no. “It’s quite simple: (Rossi) is the one I played the most. We have played a lot of games now in a short period of time. … It’s difficult to play three games in a short period of time. That was the reason.”