Columbus Crew x Charlotte FC

The contest wasn't quite over against Charlotte FC when Cucho Hernández finished superbly after a magnificent pass from Lucas Zelarayán late in the first half, the Columbus Crew were well on their way to three points. But then, just around the 60-minute mark, the Crew let in two goals in as many minutes. Even while they were still in the lead, their supporters on Lower.com Field were beginning to feel the stress of losing three points at home. Luckily for them, the Crew had other plans.

The Crew orchestrated a beautiful buildup that released Max Arfsten down the right wing, and from there, the ball found its way into the penalty box, where Christian Ramirez scored his second of the match. The Crew never looked back after taking a 3-0 lead against Charlotte FC on Saturday night. They scored three times in the span of three minutes.

Saturday night's victory gave the Crew their second in as many games, and it was the result of both the team's attitude and the offensive talent that keeps pounding opponents.

Five minutes into the match, Ramirez scored after Cucho grabbed possession of the ball deep within Charlotte's territory and then sent a through ball to his teammate, who beat Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. Arfsten, a rookie filling in for Mohamed Farsi, scored his team's second goal of the season in the 21st minute after receiving the ball on the outside of the visitors' box, dribbling in on goal, and driving the ball to the back post.

In the 43rd minute, Cucho got the ball on the right wing, dribbled inside, and found Lucas Zelarayán, who would put the Crew up 3-0 off his insanely talented strike. Cucho kept running and tucked the ball beyond Kahlina after the defender chipped it into the area for him.

The visitors scored twice in the 56th and 58th minutes to make it a closer 3-2 match, but Ramirez's second goal of the match gave the Crew the momentum they needed to close off the victory for a 4-2 win.

[Photography by Sean Faska]