What a night for #Crew96 in a 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC, which was tied for fourth in MLS' Eastern Conference going into it.

Columbus goals scored by Mendez, Zaroury and Habroune.

Details ->
www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

65' ... now it's 3-1 after Taha Habroune tacks on a goal following another Charlotte turnover against the suffocating #Crew96 high press.

#Crew96 finally crack through against Kahlina for a second time, Farsi with a nice cross to Anass Zaroury for a shot he bounces into the Charlotte goal just outside the goal area. Columbus leads 2-1 in the 63rd minute.

That's it for the first half and it remains #Crew96 1, Charlotte FC 1 ... but Columbus dictated play throughout. Feels like the Charlotte lads are headed for a stern talking to at the break, after watching Crew control the ball on their side of the pitch for most of the first 45+2.

+2 of added time in this first half and Kahlina has already made eight saves for Charlotte to keep it 1-1 rather than #Crew96 holding a multiple-goal lead.

Mendez thought for sure he had goal number two of the evening in the first half, but Kahlina makes a diving stop in the 44th min to stop his shot outside the left post.

#Crew96 absolutely dominating but the score remains 1-1 with Charlotte FC.

That's Mendez's fifth MLS goal in 12 games since joining #Crew96 from La Liga's Real Sociedad.

28' ... #Crew96 high pressure leads to a Charlotte turnover and goal for Brais Mendez to tie it 1-1 ... Santi Rodriguez with the assist.

#YellowSmoke

You can tell that turnover for the Charlotte goal is gnawing at Moreira, who grabbed his face with both hands while lying on his back when the ball hit the back of the goal.

Malte Amundsen helped him to his feet and said something, likely a "shake it off" moment, but that's a toughie. #Crew96

17' Moreira gets his pocket picked on his own half, tries to recover but can't thwart the scoring chance for Charlotte FC, who take a 1-0 lead on a goal by Idan Toklomati ... the pickpocket.

#Crew96 trailing 1-0 early.

6' Habroune gets the ball on the LW after Rodriguez brings it up with a nice run. Working with time/space, Habroune sends a great ball into the box that nearly leads to the first goal.

Habroune's been steadily increasing his impact for #Crew96

And they're off, futbol being played at SM-G Field in Columbus, pitting the home #Crew96 and Charlotte.

#Crew96 #CBJ crossover idea. The Blue Jackets give a nod to Crew by wearing "Goosebumps" uniforms. #GooJackets

#CBJ F Cole Sillinger gets things started for #Crew96 tonight at SMG-Field.

#Crew96 going with their Goosebumps kits vs Charlotte.

#Crew96 lineup notes -> (I've unlaced the #CBJ reporter skates and replaced them with the proverbial boots of the Crew beat)

#CBJ ICYMI ->

"... if they're not embarrassed, we don't want them on the team. It's as simple as that."

www.dispatch.com/story/sports...

Post practice update following a humbling 7-3 loss for the #CBJ on home ice to the Florida Panthers.

Their legs, lungs and special teams got a lengthy workout.

#CBJ coach Rick Bowness today: "Am I confident we can get this team playing to that emotional level on a more consistent basis? Yeah, I am, but we have to do it, and we have to stop talking about it."