Columbia Lions Win 2–0 Against Manhattan

RIVERDALE, N.Y. — Columbia needed a spark. It found two.

Second-half strikes from Ethan Heyward and Stepan Kapranov carried the Lions to a 2–0 win over Manhattan at Gaelic Park on Saturday, sealing back-to-back victories and clean sheets and extending their dominance in this matchup to 11-1-3 all-time. The Jaspers slipped to 2-3-0, while Columbia climbed to 2-1-1 and celebrated consecutive road wins for the first time since 2018.

Heyward Breaks the Deadlock

For 57 minutes, it was a grind.

Manhattan came out sharper, pressed higher, and forced Columbia goalkeeper Aris Taki into work. He denied Cristiano Marsilii twice in quick succession, blocking efforts in the 29th and 33rd minutes, then pushed away a drive from Giovanni Rivera in the 36th. Those saves kept the game level and gave Columbia a platform.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 58th minute, and it came from a set piece. Jack McDaid whipped in a corner to the far post, where first-year defender Joshua Sosa rose to meet it. His header crashed off the woodwork, but Heyward reacted fastest, pouncing on the rebound and burying it for 1–0.

Heyward now has three goals on the season, pulling level with McDaid for the team lead. It was a poacher’s finish, and it changed everything.

Kapranov Seals It in Style

Once in front, Columbia took control of the game.

The Lions’ attack surged after the break, outshooting Manhattan 10–3 over the final 45 minutes. Oli Sacks and Jackson ten Oever both forced saves from substitute goalkeeper Philip Isaksson, who entered at halftime to replace the Jaspers’ starter and was quickly dragged into the action.

The pressure finally told in the 78th minute, and the second goal was worth the wait.

Luke Zielinski sparked the move, winning the ball in midfield and sliding a pass into Kapranov, posted up about 10 yards outside the box with a defender on his back. Kapranov produced a clever one-touch flick into the path of Fadel Kone, who immediately returned the ball on the give-and-go. Released clean through, Kapranov strode into the area and lashed his finish into the top-right corner, doubling the lead and killing off any lingering suspense.

From there, Columbia managed the game with assurance. Manhattan never found a way back.

Taki Stands Tall, Road Swing Nears Its End

At the other end, Taki quietly put together another milestone performance. He finished with four saves, securing his second career victory and his second consecutive shutout in as many starts. The early stops against Marsilii and Rivera set the tone; the clean sheet underlined Columbia’s growing defensive steel.

This result capped a strong response on the road for a program that had not strung together away wins since 2018. One more test remains.

Columbia closes its three-game road trip on Tuesday at Temple (0-4-2), with kickoff at 4 p.m. in Philadelphia. With momentum building and the defense locking in, the question now is simple: can the Lions turn this promising stretch into a full-blown run?