Agustín Ojeda Wins a Penalty and Scores as NYCFC Hold Off Columbus Crew 2-1

Agustín Ojeda spent Wednesday night in Columbus making defenders regret their life choices. He won a penalty, he scored a goal, and he was the sharp edge on a New York City FC side that did not need much of the ball to do a lot of damage.

New York City FC beat the Columbus Crew 2-1 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, with Nicolás Fernández converting a first-half penalty and Ojeda doubling the lead in the 70th minute. Dániel Gazdag's stoppage-time penalty made the ending nervier than it needed to be, but the Pigeons held on in their first match in 60 days, according to the club.

A Quiet Start, Then a Penalty

The opening 25 minutes were cagey, the kind of soccer that makes you check your phone. Columbus had the ball and NYCFC were happy to let them have it. Then, in the 27th minute, Ojeda drove into the box and Max Arfsten conceded a penalty for the foul that stopped him. Fernández stepped up and drilled a left-footed finish into the bottom left corner for a 1-0 lead.

Columbus responded through Taha Habroune, who was their most persistent attacker all night. He sent a long-range effort wide in the 31st minute and delivered a free kick in the 41st that Jamal Thiaré steered just past the left post. NYCFC took their lead into halftime, with Tayvon Gray picking up a yellow card along the way.

NYCFC Take Control

Habroune forced Matt Freese into a low save early in the second half, but the momentum slowly shifted. Pascal Jansen made a double change in the 55th minute, sending on Talles Magno and Hannes Wolf for Malachi Jones and Bénie Traoré, who was making his club debut after joining from FC Basel earlier this month, per NYCFC.

Fernández nearly scored a stunner in the 62nd minute, smashing a direct free kick off the crossbar from outside the box. Four minutes later came the best sequence of the night for the visitors, and a frantic minute for Patrick Schulte. He saved Ojeda's shot, then Andrés Perea's header, then another Perea effort from a tight angle. All three of his saves came in that one minute.

The goal was coming, and it arrived in the 70th minute. Talles Magno hunted down Rudy Camacho near the corner, stole the ball, drove toward goal and squared it to Ojeda, who side-footed a left-footed finish into the bottom left corner. 2-0, and the Crew were in trouble.

Gazdag Makes It Tense

Jansen managed the closing stretch with fresh legs. The club singled out Jonathan Shore as impressive before he came off in the 77th minute, and praised Nico Cavallo's tireless shift down the left before Máximo Carrizo replaced him in the 83rd.

Columbus threw on Gazdag in the 75th minute and kept pressing. Freese saved from Nariman Akhundzada in the 79th and from Arfsten in the 84th. Then, in the 89th minute, Thiago Martins was penalized for a handball in the box, and VAR confirmed the penalty. Gazdag stepped up in the third minute of stoppage time and slotted it into the bottom right corner.

With nine minutes of added time on the board, Columbus had a real chance to steal a point. Habroune got the best of it, shooting wide from the middle of the box in the fifth minute of stoppage time. NYCFC survived, and the final whistle came with them still ahead 2-1.

The Difference Makers

Agustín Ojeda won the penalty, scored the second goal and put both of his shots on target. That is efficiency with a side of chaos for defenders.

Nicolás Fernández scored the penalty, hit the crossbar with a free kick and had a hand in the 66th-minute chance that led to Schulte's triple save. He also committed four fouls, so the full package.

Talles Magno came off the bench and produced the assist that won the game. The club called it brilliant industry in the corner. Camacho would probably use a different word.

Andrés Perea had three shots and put two on target, and both of those were stopped by Schulte inside the same minute. On another night, at least one of them goes in.

Matt Freese made three saves, including two in the final 15 minutes as Columbus pushed.

For Columbus, Taha Habroune took four shots and created chances all night, while Patrick Schulte made three saves and kept the Crew in it longer than they deserved.

Turning Point: Talles Magno's Steal

The 70th-minute goal changed everything. Columbus had been pushing for an equalizer, but Talles Magno's pressure on Camacho turned a routine possession into a two-goal deficit. It was a reminder that pressing can be worth as much as finishing, and that some lost causes are not lost at all.

Stats That Matter

• Possession: Columbus held 58.7 percent and completed 519 passes to NYCFC's 343.
• Shots on target: NYCFC 5, Columbus 4.
• Tackles: NYCFC attempted 34 and won 24. Columbus won 13 of 23.
• Interceptions: NYCFC made 13, Columbus eight.
• Corners: Columbus 3, NYCFC zero.

What It Means

NYCFC move to 6-4-6 (wins, draws, losses) with 22 points. They have now beaten Columbus twice this season, after a 3-0 win at Yankee Stadium in May. James Sands, back from a loan spell in Germany per the club, made his first start of the season and was booked late. Next up is a home game against the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Columbus fall to 4-4-8 with 16 points. They had won their last game before the break, 2-0 against Atlanta United, but this was a step back. And the schedule offers no rest: FC Cincinnati visit Columbus on Saturday for the Hell is Real derby.

The Closing Take

NYCFC played like a team that knew exactly who it was: compact, opportunistic and ruthless when the moment came. Columbus had the ball. New York had the plan. In soccer, as in poker, the person holding more chips does not always win the hand.

Stats from ESPN's match data. Club notes as reported by NewYorkCityFC.com and FCCincinnati.com.