Dante Vanzeir scored the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute as the New York Red Bulls rallied for a 2-1 win against the Columbus Crew in Harrison, N.J., on Saturday.
The Belgian winger scored a right-footed shot at the right post after a cross by John Tolkin to give the Red Bulls (1-1-2, five points) their first lead of the season.
Alexandru Matan gave the Crew (1-2-1, four points) the first lead of the night in the 32nd minute with the first goal of his MLS career in his 38th game before Luquinhas got the equalizer in the 58th minute.
Luquinhas put in a rebound after Eloy Room made a save of a Cory Burke shot from the middle of the box.
The rivalry is used to close contests. The past seven games between the teams have all been decided by one goal or a draw, and the previous five had a result-changing goal in 87th minute or later.
The Crew took a 1-0 lead less than two minutes after Room made a kick save on a powerful 18-yard strike through traffic by Cristian Casseres Jr.
Matan then was able to take advantage of a blunder by goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, who was nearly 30 yards off the goal line when Steven Moreira sent a long looping ball to Matan down the right flank.
Both the backtracking Coronel and Red Bulls defender Andres Reyes went for the ball, leaving an open pathway for Matan. He cut to his left and drilled a shot from 22 yards for the Crew’s lone shot of the first half.
The Crew will look to even the regular-season series when the teams play in Columbus on July 1.
Columbus was without striker Cucho Hernandez, who was a precautionary scratch because of a sore knee. Although he had yet to score this season, his goal potential drew attention away from star midfielder Lucas Zelarayan.
–Field Level Media