Lucas Zelarayan felt burden of Crew's losing streak, now playing with more confidence
Zelarayan had one of his best games of the season against FC Cincinnati.
Jacob Myers
After Lucas Zelarayan scored off a free kick in the Crew's 3-2 win against FC Cincinnati to help end a six-game losing streak, he ran along the sideline, staring into the crowd and pointing to the team's logo on his jersey.
He was trying to convey his passion for the club. It was a clear signal to all the fans who suffered through the nearly month-long losing streak with them: He would take pride in turning the season around.
"It was something born in the moment," Zelarayan said through a translator. "I wanted to show that we're here for the team. I don't quite know how to explain it, but just show them we're here for them and we wanted to win."
To gain ground in the Eastern Conference and make the playoffs, the Crew — currently three points back of a playoff spot — will need Zelarayan near the top of his game in the final 12 games.
"It's important to keep looking for him, to try to find him, and if we can find him, he always helps the team with good plays," midfielder Pedro Santos said. "If we play well and try to help him, he'll feel more free and won't feel the pressure."
As the Crew's highest-paid player and primary attacking threat, there was perhaps no other player, outside captain Jonathan Mensah, who felt as much pressure during the longest losing streak in club history as Zelarayan.
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It was clear at times that he felt like he had to do everything himself. He would try to force a spectacular play during games, and he would be the first to walk off to the locker room as the losses mounted.
Against the Seattle Sounders and Cincinnati, however, Zelarayan had two of his best performances of the year — even setting aside his fifth free-kick goal of the season.
He had a season-high six key passes against Seattle. Then against the Crew's in-state rival, he had a season-high with 84 touches, eight of 11 dribbles completed, and five more key passes.
"Last game, certainly, was excellent and back to being Lucas," coach Caleb Porter said. "A guy that helps us with rhythm, a guy that is a big part of our chance creation, a guy that's defending and giving us that pressure from the front and just spurring us on."
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Zelarayan was candid last season about seeking out a sports psychologist to help him during stretches when he wasn't producing goals and assists as much. He said he has continued to talk to the psychologist this season, which has helped.
"I've been working with him all year," Zelarayan said. "I talk to him whenever I can. I talked to him about the losses and such that we were going through. ... It has helped me get going."
Zelarayan wasn't at his best in the months of July and August, but that was far from the club's biggest problem. Even when Zelarayan has been at the top of his game, the Crew has struggled to create quality scoring chances this season, ranking second to last in Major League Soccer in expected goals and last in total assists (12) by wide margins.
Zelarayan has been one of the most efficient Crew players. He has scored seven goals with three assists on just 3.2 expected goals and leads the Crew with 44 key passes. He's also shooting at a higher clip, with 2.8 shots per 90 minutes versus just two shots per 90 last season.
Miguel Berry said Zelarayan was emotional in the locker room after the Cincinnati match. Whether that victory is a one-off, feel-good moment or the start of a comeback could be determined by Zelarayan's performances — something he understands.
He specifically came to Columbus to be that player.
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