Takeaways: Columbus Crew make similar costly defensive mistakes vs. Orlando City, Miguel Berry scores again

The Crew gave up more chances than it would have liked in a 3-2 loss to Orlando City at Exploria Stadium Saturday night, and the three goals conceded were preventable in ways the team has seen too often this season. 

Orlando forwards Daryl Dike and Silvester van der Water scored three minutes apart just before the half-hour mark. The Crew tied the game in the 54th minute on a goal from Miguel Berry, his third in two games and fourth this season, following an Orlando own goal that had occurred two minutes earlier.

It looked like the Crew were on its way toward a solid draw on the road that could’ve helped their playoff chances a bit, but attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan turned the ball over at the top of the box in the 69th minute, allowing Junior Urso to take a shot on his first touch for the winning goal. 

“I thought the result was there for the taking, especially second half, the way that we clawed back into the game to make it 2-2,” coach Caleb Porter said. “Disappointing obviously to get nothing out of the game. Guys fought really hard.”

Zelarayan's play was costly, but the Crew were not close to perfect defensively before that.

Without captain Jonathan Mensah, the back line was clearly unorganized until Josh Williams made his first appearance since June 19 in the 54th minute, entering for Aboubacar Keita. Porter said Mensah will miss next game as well because he must quarantine for five days after returning from international duty with Ghana. (Liam Fraser will not have to quarantine because he is vaccinated.) 

And winger Luis Diaz, striker Gyasi Zardes and left back Milton Valenzuela will either all be back in limited roles or return shortly thereafter, with Williams in line for more playing time as he gets more fit.

Orlando (10-4-8, 38 points) had just about every major player other than its goalkeeper playing against a group that had about six starters out. A win in this game for the Crew (7-10-6, 27 points) was going to be hard to come by, but they still should have gotten at least a draw out of the game. 

"I think a lot of the things will be solved through personnel, getting healthier,” Porter said. “But I still think there are a few guys, not first-choice, but capable of playing better." 

Among the remaining games that could be considered a “must-win,” this wasn’t one of them. It’s still a game the Crew will learn from, and must do better in as more first-choice players return. 

“This next week of training is going to be the best training we've had all year,” Williams said. “There's only one thing to do there, and that's to grind and learn how to step on people's throats. We lost that somewhere along the line and we need that back.” 

Here are some takeaways from the match. 

Trend of early goals conceded reappears 

The first 30 minutes against Orlando felt fairly similar to the first three games of the club's recent six-game losing streak: The Crew would play decent enough to think they were getting closer to eventually scoring only to give up multiple goals on mistakes. 

In the 26th minute, center back Keita lost a physical battle against Daryl Dike on a long pass from midfielder Nani in Orlando’s half of the field. Keita fell down and tried to recover but Dike had enough space to finish above goalkeeper Eloy Room in the back of the net. 

Three minutes later, van der Water swung in a cross toward the goal intended for Chris Mueller. Van der Water was credited with the goal, but Mueller could’ve easily tapped it in because center back. Vito Wormgoor and right back Harrison Afful let Mueller run free in front of Room. 

In his postgame comments, Porter was most frustrated with the first goal allowed, saying — without mentioning his name — that Keita didn’t make the routine play. 

“I thought the two mistakes on the goals were poor, especially the first one,” Porter said. “We're in the game, 30 minutes, here we are. We're starting to get a few, knocking on the door getting a few chances. Everything's set up for us, and routine ball over the top, we fall down, and it's 1-0. Those goals can't happen. I think when Josh went into the game his quality showed, his leadership, his organization.” 

Center backs struggle 

Porter said he thought Wormgoor played pretty well and showed the passion he was looking for from his defense. No one would doubt Wormgoor’s aggressive style is passionate, but he wasn’t sharp at some key moments. 

In addition to the first goal allowed, Wormgoor made an error in judgment in the 84th minute when he stepped toward Orlando midfielder Mauricio Pereyra on a counter-attack. Wormgoor was nowhere close to winning a challenge, which gave Tesho Akindele the best chance of the night for Orlando. Fortunately for the Crew, he missed. 

Keita and left back Waylon Francis had difficult nights. Especially in the first half, the left side of the defense had issues marking players and defending combinations around the penalty area. Before the first goal, Orlando had a few opportunities down the left side that could’ve been a goal with a better cross.

When asked if the moments when Orlando created were more breakdowns in communication or players out of position, Porter said it has to do strictly with performance and quality of the players. 

"I think that first goal, it's routine,” he said. “High-line defending, ball over the top — you got to read it, you got to cover, you got to be strong. Those are routine plays." 

Miguel Berry notches a goal in a starting role 

Berry earned a start against Orlando after scoring two late goals in the win against FC Cincinnati in the club's previous game. In the 54th minute, he took advantage again. On a great combination — one of the few of the season — between Zelarayan and winger Derrick Etienne Jr., Berry confidently finished his opportunity past goalkeeper Adam Grinwis. 

Now with four goals in only 265 minutes, Berry has solidified himself as someone who should receive ample time in every game right now. 

“He's such a bright spot right now,” Porter said. “This kid is really emerging as a big player for us. Obviously, he's got to continue to do it consistently, but just love his hunger, love his energy. I love that he's taking his chances.”

Berry was inches away on two other chances in the first half from scoring. He said he's feeling more chemistry with attacking players as he consistently has gotten playing time.

"The first half there was a couple a yard off either side of the defender, the second half we saw a little bit more connection," he said. "I think we just keep building on that."

jmyers@dispatch.com

@_jcmyers

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