Christian Ramirez scored early in the first half and Patrick Schulte made four saves as the host Columbus Crew defeated Nashville SC 2-0 on Saturday.
Ramirez made it 1-0 in the 20th minute and an own goal by Nashville defender Jack Maher in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time forged the final score as the Crew (9-6-4, 31 points) extended their unbeaten run to five (4-0-1).
The rookie Schulte earned his fourth shutout of the season as the Crew improved to 7-1-2 at home.
Nashville (10-5-5, 35 points) lost again after a 10-game unbeaten streak (7-0-3) ended in a 1-0 loss at Montreal on Wednesday.
Ramirez continued his hot stretch with his fourth goal in his past four games to complete a swift sequence by the Crew.
Alex Muyl had just put Nashville’s first shot on goal when a goal kick by Schulte sent the Crew the other way. Lucas Zelarayan stripped Brian Anunga near the center circle and sent a deft through ball to Ramirez.
Ramirez took his first touch with his right foot then struck for his seventh goal of the season with his left.
The Crew also led 1-0 at the half on May 28 before Nashville scored three unanswered goals for a home victory.
This match featured the league’s best offense versus the best defense and played out at the start as expected with the Crew employing their high-possession game and Nashville absorbing the pressure and looking for MLS goal leader Hany Mukhtar on the counter.
Nearly two minutes into the game, Cucho Hernandez forced a save by Joe Willis, and five minutes later, Mohamed Farsi misfired from close range after a Zelarayan set up.
In the 55th minute, Mukhtar put a header on frame that Schulte tipped over the crossbar.
Willis kept it a one-goal game with outstanding stops of a Zelarayan free kick in the 87th minute and a shot from Hernandez in the 88th. Willis made four saves.
The Crew got the cushion they needed in stoppage time when a cross by Max Arfsten deflected off Maher’s left foot.
–Field Level Media
