Rossi scores go-ahead goal to boost Columbus Crew to 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Diego Rossi's ninth goal of the season capped the scoring for both teams in the first half and the Columbus Crew beat the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Saturday.

Columbus (8-3-7) won for the first time since May 3 when it beat Charlotte FC, 4-2. Vancouver fell to 10-2-5. It was the Whitecaps' first MLS loss since a 3-1 defeat against the Chicago Fire on March 22.

Rossi scored the final goal in the 23rd minute as the Crew took advantage of a Vancouver turnover deep in its end. Dániel Gazdag stole a lazy Whitecaps pass and fed Rossi for a right-footed tap at the middle of the box.

Ibrahim Aliyu scored his second goal as a member of the Crew just 68 seconds in for a 1-0 Columbus lead. Aliyu took a pass from Lassi Lappalainen at the center of the box for the score. It was the second-fastest regular-season goal in the Crew's history.

Daniel Ríos scored in the 6th minute from the middle outside the box off a pass from Mathias Laborda to level the score.

The Crew reached the back of the net three times in the second half, but the apparent goals were wiped clean due to offside calls.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi gestures to the crowd during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Vancouver Whitecaps' Mathías Laborda looks on during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Columbus Crew, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Columbus Crew forward Ibrahim Aliyu controls the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Columbus Crew forward Ibrahim Aliyu (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Columbus Crew forward Ibrahim Aliyu (11) reacts after scoring during the first half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Vancouver Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo, right, tackles Columbus Crew midfielder Taha Habroune, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe reacts after a missed shot on goal during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe, left, controls the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Columbus Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe (19) shoots against Vancouver Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo, left, during the second half of an MLS soccer match Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi controls the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against Vancouver Whitecaps, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)