New York City FC missed a massive chance to pick up ground in the the play-off racw in their inaugural season as City lost 2-1 at home to the Columbus Crew. Federico Higuain gave Columbus the lead in the tenth minute, but Andrew Jacobson equalised for the hosts with a thunderbolt of a strike 20 minutes later. The match looked to be ending in a draw, but Justin Meram nicked a later winner for Columbus in the 83rd minute, to seal the three points for the visitors.

David Villa came close to giving City an early lead as Mix Diskerud played in a great cross to Villa, who had plenty of space around him; however his first touch was poor, and his volley sailed wide of the post.

However it was the visitors who would strike first as Higuain gave Columbus the lead in the 10th minute. Wil Trapp sent in a corner, and Higuain was allowed the freedom to head the ball in from close range, after Andrea Pirlo left the midfielder free inside the box. The header flew past Josh Saunders to give Columbus the lead.

Kei Kamara could had made it 2-0 in the 16th minute after the Columbus striker was sent through on goal by an easy over the top pass, with no defenders around him, the striker dashed towards goal, only to sky his shot high from close range.

Patrick Mullins went close to getting City an equaliser after a move from the back resulted in the striker collecting the ball from just outside the box, however his shot flew just high over the bar.

City equalised on the half hour mark as Jacobson scored his first goal for the expansion side, and what a goal it was. Mullins brought down a long ball up field, and laid the ball off to an on-running Jacobson, and from 30-yards out, the former Stabaek player fired an explosive shot past Steve Clark which nestled into the bottom corner, and to level the game up at 1-1.

Villa should had made it 2-1 to the hosts in the 36th minute as the NYC captain and Mix linked up well on a New York counter attack, however Villa’s effort on goal inside the box curled just over the far post. Mix had the final chance of the half for City as the USMNT midfielder tried an audacious bicycle kick from 12-yards out, but the acrobatic effort went just over the bar.

NYCFC started the second half brightly as City had two early chances from Jefferson Mena in the 46th minute and Mullins in the 47th minute, however both chances went just wide of the post. There was an injury scare for the hosts in the 70th minute when Mena, who had been great at the back, looked to have picked up an injury, and the Colombian was replaced by Shay Facey.

After 30 minutes of very slow and quiet football in the second half, Kamara brought the half to life after the league's top goal scorer hit the crossbar from close range. Kamara was picked out by Ethan Finlay, however his header from very close range was just too powerful, and the headed effort crashed off the top of the crossbar.

However, Justin Meram didn’t miss his chances, and the Columbus number nine made it 2-1 to the Columbus Crew seven minutes from time. The Iraq international picked the ball up from the left wing, and strolled past the NYC defence, who looked afraid to tackle the winger, before Meram cut inside to the box, and bent the ball past Saunders at the far pos, to restore Columbus’ lead and claim the three points for the Crew.

The result means that NYCFC have a huge challenge in front of them if they wish to claim the final play-off spot in the Eastern Conference, with Montreal in a similar position, but with four more games to play than City.