Takeaways: Columbus Crew playoff hopes keep slipping, urgency missing in loss to Inter Miami
Jacob MyersThe Crew trailed 1-0 after the 16th minute on the road Saturday against Inter Miami — a team just one point behind them in the standings and ahead of them in points per game. The match was perhaps more crucial to the Crew’s playoff chances than just about any other game left on the club's schedule.
What happened after allowing the opening goal was one quality chance through the run of play, one chance off a set-piece in the second half, some good defending, but mostly a lifeless offense with no urgency to find that extra gear necessary to fight for the Crew’s season.
The 1-0 loss to Inter Miami (8-9-5, 29 points) was the Crew’s (7-11-6, 27 points) 10th shutout of the season and pushed them four points below the playoff line with 10 games left — six of which are at home.
The 10th-place Crew are five points from Philadelphia Union in fifth place, but the teams in between have at least one game in hand.
Crew coach Caleb Porter exuded confidence in his group, going so far as to say they “outplayed” Inter Miami, despite what can only be described as one of the most disheartening performances of the season.
The Crew did hold higher possession numbers and prevented Miami from getting a single shot away in the second half. But creating so few chances and not getting an effort that looked like they’re fighting for their playoff lives showed just how far the Crew has fallen — injuries aside — from the peak of last season’s championship run.
"Everybody wants to make these into 'You've got to win this one or that one,' ” Porter said. “We're going to keep taking each game as it comes and you don't know what's going to happen in this league. I've learned that time and again."
Miami had lost just one game in its past nine games and was in much better form than the Crew. But given the strength of the Crew’s road schedule the rest of the way — New England, Philadelphia, Nashville and D.C. United — a draw seemed necessary. And the lack of execution when they needed a single goal was galling.
"We're not going to think about anything other than the positives and moving into next game and recover,” Porter said. “I'm very confident we're going to get three points and we're going to be sitting right where we need to sit with nine games to go.”
Chance creation lacking
The Crew was missing its starting striker, left back and its fastest attacking player last week at Orlando when they managed to come back from a two-goal deficit and create enough looks for a third goal. With Gyasi Zardes, Milton Valenzuela and Luis Diaz back — albeit for no more than 45 minutes for any of them — the Crew struggled all night to connect passes and threaten the Miami defense.
There were seven shots with three of them on goal for just 0.6 expected goals value (xG). That’s not playoff-caliber.
Derrick Etienne’s shot in the box in the 19th minute was the Crew’s best chance on target, forcing goalkeeper Nick Marsman to make a save. Josh Williams’ header in the 69th minute that hit the outside of the net was the best chance of the match for the Crew.
Other than that, there were several moments on Miami’s side of the field when the Crew would pause on the ball without any semblance of an idea to break down the back five defenders. When the Crew would have a moment in the attack, Miami was successful in either cutting off a pass or tackling the ball.
Attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan struggled most of the night to find space atop the box and lost possession more than a few occasions. He connected on 82% of his passes but won only five of 17 duels.
He became visibly frustrated in the 62nd minute when Miami defender Brek Shea stole the ball from him from behind to prevent a scoring opportunity, and neither Zardes nor Diaz warned him of Shea.
Porter said the Crew needs to create more, which has to mostly come from the wingers and outside backs. He said winger Pedro Santos was forcing passes and playing too low.
"When you look at the production we've gotten out of those positions, it's not enough,” he said. “Not enough assists, not enough goals. We have to continue to in those areas be better, produce more and I'm confident that we will.”
Josh Williams' costly error
The insertion of center back Josh Williams into the lineup last week made an immediate improvement. In his first start since June 19 on Saturday, he happened to gift the only big chance Miami had in the game that ended up being the difference.
Gonzalo Higuain stole the back pass from Williams and chipped goalkeeper Eloy Room. It was the 19th first-half goal the Crew has allowed this season, third-most in MLS.
Miami had one another shot on goal later in the first half off a Zelarayan turnover, but the defense played well overall. The Crew just happened to shoot themselves in the foot again.
Porter, Gary Neville have tense exchange
Porter and Miami coach Phil Neville were seen after the game having a fairly heated moment when going to shake hands after the final whistle. Reporters asking Porter questions weren't aware of the exchange until after Porter's press conference.
Neville shared the details with reporters in Miami, adding he has a lot of respect for Porter.
“It is a difficult one because there is a code of conduct between managers, but I thought he broke the code of conduct between managers,” Neville said. “He accused every referee in the league of having a Phil Neville shirt on, and I am like, ‘Go and watch the first 10 games of the season.' "
Porter said he thought the officiating was one of the worst of the season.
jmyers@dispatch.com
@_jcmyers