Football
Reuters 5y

Gyasi Zardes' two goals, Zack Steffen drive Crew past Revolution

Gyasi Zardes scored twice, and Zack Steffen had a penalty-kick save and an assist as Columbus Crew SC defeated the New England Revolution 2-0 in Foxborough, Mass., on Saturday.

Steffen made three saves for his 20th career shutout for the Crew (1-0-1).

New England (0-1-1) had been 7-0-5 in its previous 12 home openers.

Zardes spotted the Crew a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute with his first goal of the season. He had 19 last season, his first for Columbus after being traded by the Los Angeles Galaxy, to earn another chance with the U.S. National Team and his former coach with the Crew, Gregg Berhalter.

Pedro Santos made a run down the left channel and sent a 30-yard service toward the right post, where Zardes put his head down and knocked it down and across the line on one bounce from 6 yards.

Steffen preserved the lead in the 59th minute with a penalty stop on Diego Fagundez. Steffen made the correct read and made a diving save to the right with his right arm.

Wilfried Zahibo drew the penalty on Gaston Sauro two minutes earlier as he was running for a ball toward the end line.

Steffen has stopped nine of 12 PKs in his MLS career.

He will join England's Manchester City in the summer after signing for a transfer fee in excess of $7 million in December.

Prior to the penalty, Fagundez was denied on a 19-yard free kick when Steffen moved to his right and punched the ball away.

Steffen capped the day with a long ball to Hector Jimenez, who found Zardes in front for the insurance goal in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.

The Crew host FC Dallas on March 16. New England plays at Toronto FC on March 17.

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