Crew stun Houston after Matan’s stoppage time goal in CONCACAF Champions Cup match

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – The 2023 MLS champions saved some heroics for the 2024 Champions Cup.

Alexandru Matan’s cross in front of the goal deflected off a defender and into the net, lifting the Crew to a 1-0 win in stoppage time over the Houston Dynamo in a CONCACAF Champions Cup Round-of-16 match Wednesday at Shell Energy Stadium.

The goal came in the 96^th minute on Columbus’ last gasp effort, when Matan attempted to chip a pass to Cucho Hernandez, who was streaking to the left corner of the net. The ball rolled behind Cucho in the box and grazed the leg of defender Coco Carrasquilla before bouncing into the opposite corner of the net.

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The goal followed two disallowed goals in the second half, one for each team. Houston’s Ethan Bartlow and Columbus’ Christian Ramirez each had goals waived off due to offsides and the match headed into stoppage time tied at zero.

With the Crew holding a one-goal advantage, the second leg of the series with Houston will be played on March 12 and Lower.com Field in Columbus at 6 p.m.

In the Round of 16, opponents play two games with the combined goals from those two matches determining who advances to the quarterfinals. If the teams are tied on goals after two games, the first tiebreaker is which team scored more away goals. If that too is equal, the second leg goes to extra time and possibly penalties.

Columbus or Houston will face the winner of the Round of 16 series between Mexican club UANL Tigres and Orlando City.

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