Columbus Crew SC 1, Houston Dynamo 0 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

The Houston Dynamo thought they'd gutted out a hard-earned road draw at MAPFRE Stadium, but Gyasi Zardes had other ideas. 

The Columbus Crew SC frontrunner netted a clinical injury-time strike, his third in as many games, to break a scoreless deadlock on Saturday and deliver a 1-0 victory for his side, and a gut punch to the Dynamo. 

Despite missing three starters and their head coach to suspensions and carrying heavy legs from their epic, marathon U.S. Open Cupsemifinal triumph at midweek, Houston competed gamely in their third game in eight days and frustrated their hosts, who saw Zardes booked for a blow to Boniek Garcia in the second half. 

Arguing that Zardes strayed offside on his winner, the Dynamo complained heatedly to referee Mark Geiger, overseeing his first MLS game since his World Cup campaign in Russia. But the goal stood, and La Naranja slumped to their fourth consecutive loss in league play.

Goals

• 90+1' – CLB – Gyasi Zardes | WATCH

Three Things 

THE BIG PICTURE: Last weekend Dynamo coach Wilmer Cabrera spoke of his team being "against the wall" and in a "difficult moment," and their hard-luck story continued in Ohio. Crew SC, meanwhile, will be mopping their brows to have dodged the full consequences of an unconvincing home performance.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: Zardes' finish was coldly clinical, though the debate about the non-call for offside may burn hotly for a while. Houston's chief beef, most likely? The influence on the play exerted by 
Patrick Mullins
, who did appear to be in an offside position a few yards ahead of Zardes:

MAN OF THE MATCH: Crew SC maestro Federico Higuain was a pleasure to watch in his 75 minutes and Justin Meram got a warm welcome on his return to Columbus, but Gyasi Zardes was the prime protagonist here.

Next Up

• Columbus: Sunday, August 19 at Atlanta United (4 pm ET | TSN2 - Full TV & streaming info)
• Houston: Saturday, August 18 vs. Real Salt Lake (9 pm ET | Full TV & streaming info)