Crew 2 fires Higuain after fallout from ref abuse

Crew 2 Fires Higuain After Fallout From Ref Abuse

Columbus Crew 2 have officially parted ways with head coach Federico Higuaín following a severe disciplinary incident during their recent 3-2 defeat against NYCFC II. Higuaín was ejected from the technical area in the 78th minute for verbal abuse directed at the officiating crew, leading to swift termination by the club’s front office.

The decision ends Higuaín’s tenure abruptly, coming at a critical juncture of the MLS Next Pro campaign. Assistant coach Kobie Johnson will take over as interim manager for the remainder of the season.

Key Stats & Facts

• Final Score: NYCFC II 3-2 Columbus Crew 2
• Possession: NYCFC II 54% | Columbus Crew 2 46%
• Shots (On Target): NYCFC II 14 (6) | Columbus Crew 2 11 (5)
• Fouls: NYCFC II 16 | Columbus Crew 2 19
• Discipline: 8 yellow cards, 2 red cards (including Higuaín’s 78’ dismissal and defender Abdi Salim’s 72’ red card).
• Managerial Record: Higuaín departs with a lifetime average of 1.74 points per game (PPG) since taking charge in 2022, a tenure highlighted by the inaugural MLS Next Pro Championship title.

Player Spotlight

Forward Gibran Rayo was the lone bright spot for Crew 2, scoring a brace (34’, 58’) to briefly put the visitors ahead 2-1. Rayo converted a penalty in the first half and capitalized on a defensive error in the second, raising his season tally to nine goals. However, his performance was overshadowed by the subsequent defensive collapse following Salim’s dismissal.

Standings Impact

The loss leaves Columbus Crew 2 in 6th place in the MLS Next Pro Eastern Conference, stalling on 34 points after 21 matches. With only three matches remaining in the regular season, Crew 2 now sit four points below the playoff line. The club faces an uphill battle to secure a postseason berth under interim leadership.