Frustrations rise for Columbus Crew following loss vs New England: Takeaways

Apr 18, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder Max Arfsten (27) reacts after a penalty kick goal by the New England Revolution in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Of the Crew's four losses, three have been conceded in the second half after taking an early lead.

"It's tough right now," Crew midfielder Max Arfsten said. "I think we just, once again, got the lead and then stopped playing as aggressively, offensively and defensively, and then you saw what happened."

Arfsten scored the Crew's lone goal during the 25th minute, capitalizing on an open goal while goalkeeper Matt Turner was out of position.

Crew's frustration displayed throughout second half

As the clock ticked away, the Crew's frustration with the game became evident.

Columbus was shown three yellow cards, all after New England scored its first goal, starting with midfielder Andre Gomes getting hit with one for a foul near midfield, leading to him exchanging words with Turner.

Apr 18, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Crew midfielder André Gomes (20) is given a yellow card as they take on the New England Revolution in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Gomes' frustration seemingly resulted from officials calling his foul after missing a tackle against Crew defender Steven Moreira a minute earlier. Arfsten, however, admitted that other moments, including his own yellow card violation, stemmed from frustration regarding this game and the season overall.

"It's a little bit of both," Arfsten said. "I know I hit that guy [Ilay Feingold] at the end. I was just pissed. It had nothing to do with him. I think we all just got aggressive and frustrated as the second half went on, and I think it's natural."

Crew played 'too passive' in second half

New England took control of the game by dominating possession in the second half.

"We were then too passive with the ball," Rydstrom said. "It's a mental aspect of the game that you have chased the ball a little bit without them creating, and then you want to rest when you have the ball. We can't do that."

Apr 18, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil (10) and Columbus Crew midfielder André Gomes (20) work for the ball in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Outside a missed opportunity from midfielder Dylan Chambost just seven minutes into the second half, the Crew attempted all their second-half shots in stoppage time, with four being taken in the span of six minutes.

"We need to understand that we need to be even better in the second half with the ball so we force them to defend longer," Rydstrom said. "We were not good with the ball."

Crew need to start turning results around as regular season continues moving forward

With just one win and 10 goals scored through eight games this season, compared to 12 goals conceded, the Crew have already fallen far in the standings, sitting in 12th in the Eastern Conference.

The loss of striker Wessam Abou Ali to a season-ending ACL injury will likely make rising in the conference even more of an uphill battle, but time is on the Crew's side, as they have seven months still in the season to correct the course.

"It doesn't sound super amazing to say, but we just have to take it one day at a time," Arfsten said. "Train hard, just get on the same page as players on the field and really just take more accountability, myself, of course, included. ... We know what we're doing right now is not working, so we have to do something to change, and it's on the players."

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew concede advantage, fall vs New England Revolution: Takeaways