COLUMBUS, Ohio – With five goals in 173 career regular-season appearances, center back Jalil Anibaba doesn’t have as many opportunities to celebrate on-field as, say, most forwards or midfielders.

Instead, Anibaba shows his emotions after every critical block, tackle and clearance – and there’ve been plenty during his first seven appearances with the New England Revolution.

It’s a reactional release for the 29-year-old defender, who has a passion for blocking shots and keeping opponents off the scoreboard the way a chef might have a passion for making the perfect dish.

“As far as emotion being shown, that just comes out naturally,” said Anibaba. “That’s just my emotion, my passion, my love for the game. It’s easy to exude with this group.”

Anibaba’s passion was on full display on Saturday night at MAPFRE Stadium, where the veteran center back came up huge time and time again to deny Columbus Crew SC. There was a block on Harrison Afful’s low blast in just the second minute, sparking a counterattack. There was a last-ditch effort to deny Gyasi Zardes a go-head goal from close range early in the second half. Perhaps most importantly, there was a clearance off the line when Federico Higuain’s volley was bound for the back of the net.

All told, Anibaba registered 20 defensive actions – six interceptions, six clearances, four defensive blocks and four recoveries – to help the Revs claim a critical road point in a 2-2 draw.

“Jalil was absolutely tremendous today,” said head coach Brad Friedel, who signed Anibaba in February after a successful preseason trial.

While coaches and teammates praised Anibaba’s all-out effort on Saturday night, he was more reserved about his performance, saying he was simply doing what the coaching staff had entrusted him to do by handing him a sixth straight start on the backline.

“I think it’s just a matter of me doing my job, to be honest,” Anibaba said. “I always try to put myself in good positions to block shots; that’s what I’m supposed to do. I’m supposed to help keep balls out of the back of the net.”