{
  "id": 19162151,
  "title": "Brais Méndez delivers Decision Day drama | Energy Moment of the Matchday",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/brais-mendez-delivers-decision-day-drama-energy-moment-of-the-matchday",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-09T14:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/brais-m-ndez-delivers-decision-141500240.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On the final day of the MLS regular season, Brais Méndez orchestrated a thrilling comeback for the Columbus Crew, securing a 4-3 victory over Chicago Fire FC. The Spaniard netted the decisive goal in stoppage time, propelling the Crew into the Eastern Conference semifinals with an Eastern Conference No. 7 seed. This dramatic win not only spared the Crew from a Wild Card matchup but also set the stage for a high-stakes Best-of-3 series against defending MLS Cup champions Inter Miami CF. Inter Miami will face the Crew in a Best-of-3 series. Inter Miami head coach Javier Aguirre expressed delight at the Crew's resilience, stating, \"They showed incredible heart and determination.\" The Crew's turnaround was made possible by Méndez's contributions, alongside fellow Designated Players Santiago Rodríguez and Gonzalo Tapia, who scored a brace. The 1,000+ minutes played by the Designated Player have been instrumental in shaping Columbus's resurgence, culminating in a memorable six-game winning streak to conclude the season.",
  "summary": "By Dylan ButlerEnergy Moment of the Matchday 35: Brais MéndezSeconds away from a Wild Card showdown against Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati, Brais Méndez flipped the script for the Columbus Crew...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}