Columbus Crew shut out for 10th time, drop below Inter Miami after 1-0 loss on the road
Jacob MyersThe Crew finally had multiple key players return after missing several games just in time for one of the most important games remaining on the Crew’s schedule — and the only game remaining on the road against a team lower than them in the standings.
Through 90 minutes against Inter Miami on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the Crew had little chance creation and lacked the edge that defined last season’s team as this season’s playoff hopes slipped further away in a 1-0 loss.
Crew coach Caleb Porter said the Crew "outplayed" Miami — which the Crew did have more shots and was around the penalty area more with more possession. But the energy at the end of the game was far from what a team desperate to make the playoffs should have.
Porter indicated the team was already moving on to the next game Tuesday at home.
"If there's any frustration at all, we're going to channel that into this next game," he said. "We got to get a win in the next game and this whole thing's going to turn on its head and we're going to start to make a run up the table."
Entering the night one point ahead of Miami (8-9-5, 29 points) with two more games played, a bad start was the last thing the Crew (7-11-6, 27 points) could afford. It happened in the most predictable way.
The downward spiral of the Crew’s season has mostly come from self-inflicted mistakes from the defensive back line, which continued from the player least expected to make such an error.
In the 16th minute, center back Josh Williams played a simple back-pass meant for goalkeeper Eloy Room, but Room was deeper in the box than Williams thought. Miami forward Gonzalo Higuain anticipated the back pass and made a couple touches before chipping Room for the opening goal.
Three minutes later, the Crew had its best chance through a combination play between winger Pedro Santos and attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan. The cross from Santos found winger Derrick Etienne Jr in the middle of the box. His first-touch shot was hard and low, but saved by goalkeeper Nick Marsman.
Williams had a chance on a header from close range at the back post in the 69th minute on a cross from Zelarayan but missed wide, hitting the side of the net.
Winger Luis Diaz had a chance from a sharp angle on the left side in the 91st minute which Marsman saved to preserve Miami's win to aid its season turnaround.
"Definitely don't want to lose to a team that's right there with us that we're battling for that spot for but it is what it is," midfielder Darlington Nagbe said. "We know we have to win these games to get these points to move up in the table."
Outside of Williams’ giveaway in the 16th minute, the Crew didn’t allow many scoring opportunities. Forward Robbie Robinson, Higuain and midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro got behind the Crew back line on the counter attack on a few occasions, but most of those never resulted in a shot. Room had to make just one save in the first half against Robinson.
Miami didn’t have one shot the entire second half, amplifying the disappointment in the Crew’s results in their own offense.
The Crew’s chance creation has been anything but consistent all season. Saturday was one of their worst games at the worst time.
There was plenty of possession in Miami’s half of the field, but it often ended in Miami winning a duel and getting possession or an errant cross or pass.
Zelarayan was visibly frustrated in the 62nd minute when he had a potential three-on-three just outside the penalty area. Miami defender Brek Shea tracked back and stole the ball from Zelarayan from behind. Zelarayan yelled at forward Gyasi Zardes and winger Luis Diaz for not warning him of Shea.
Left back Milton Valenzuela started in his first appearance since July 3, and midfielder Marlon Hairston also made a return to the starting lineup, with Zardes and Diaz coming off the bench. None of them did anything detrimental, but nothing spectacular either — which could explain the entire team’s performance.
The Crew have six home games remaining in the final 10 games and might have to win them all to have any hope of making the playoffs.
jmyers@dispatch.com
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