NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Columbus Crew appeared poised to leave GEODIS Park with three valuable road points Saturday night.
Instead, Nashville SC authored one of the most dramatic comebacks of the MLS season.
After rallying from an early deficit to take a 2-1 lead midway through the second half, the Crew conceded goals in the 93rd and 95th minutes as Nashville escaped with a stunning 3-2 victory. The loss extended Columbus' MLS skid to three matches despite a spirited second-half performance.
Nashville opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Hany Mukhtar finished a well-worked passing sequence, giving the Supporters' Shield leaders a 1-0 advantage. The hosts carried that lead into halftime despite Columbus enjoying stretches of possession and limiting Nashville's chances after the opening goal.
The match turned after the break.
Mohamed Farsi leveled the score in the 58th minute, finishing a setup from Malte Amundsen and Brais Méndez to cap a sustained spell of pressure from the Crew. Just 10 minutes later, André Gomes put Columbus in front with a brilliant free kick that curled over the wall and into the back of the net for his first MLS goal.
With the lead in hand, the Crew looked on course to secure an important road victory against one of the league's top clubs.
Nashville had other plans.
Deep into stoppage time, Reed Baker-Whiting headed home a corner kick to draw the hosts level in the 93rd minute. Before Columbus could regroup, Andy Nájar completed the comeback two minutes later, finishing a cross from Jeisson Palacios to send the home crowd into celebration and hand Nashville an improbable 3-2 victory.
The defeat was a difficult one for Columbus to absorb.
The Crew had successfully weathered Nashville's early pressure and produced one of their strongest stretches of soccer after halftime, only to see the result slip away in the closing moments. Against the league leaders, the margin between three points and none ultimately came down to a pair of plays in second-half stoppage time.
What's Next: The Crew return home next Saturday to host the Colorado Rapids at Lower.com Field. Columbus will look to regroup and end its three-match MLS losing streak as it continues its push for playoff positioning.