Columbus Crew withstand New England Revolution vaunted attack for crucial draw on the road
Jacob MyersThe Crew gave it away. But they also survived.
Columbus made a careless defensive mistake close to goal, which has been a staple of this season’s struggles. That negated a go-ahead goal from Crew forward Gyasi Zardes in the 58th minute.
After Adam Buksa scored the tying goal for the New England Revolution in the 62nd minute, the Crew withstood wave after wave of New England’s attack to hold onto a crucial road point against the best team in Major League Soccer with a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium.
Crew goalkeeper Eloy Room gave a memorable effort to close out the game, hobbling on his right leg after suffering an injury in the 86th minute. Having to stay in because the Crew had used all their substitutions, Room made three saves in the final six minutes while hardly being able to move because of his injury.
On the last play of the game, Revolution defender Brandon Bye hit a header on goal that fell directly into Room’s hands.
"It shows how resilient Eloy is, and it shows his characteristics of being a warrior," Zardes said.
Entering the night four points out of a playoff position, the Crew (8-11-7, 31 points) gladly accepted a tie considering that the team played without multiple key attacking players and the Revolution consistently put pressure on the Crew defense close to goal.
The Revolution (17-4-5, 56 points) outshot the Crew 33-6 and had 14 corners.
"For us to come on the road and fight and dig in, and find a way, and refuse to lose, very proud," Crew coach Caleb Porter said.
Midfielder Lucas Zelarayan was out with a hip injury that had him listed as questionable. Winger Luis Diaz was a surprise exemption from the lineup. A Crew spokesman said he will miss one to two weeks with a knee sprain, which happened Friday in training. Winger Pedro Santos was out with a concussion.
Without their best threat to run behind the defense in Diaz and their best chance creator in Zelarayan, the Crew played a 4-4-2 instead of coach Caleb Porter’s preferred 4-2-3-1, starting forwards Gyasi Zardes and Miguel Berry together up top.
Rather than keeping the ball and trying to attack through the build-up, the focus was on limiting New England’s prolific attack, featuring Carles Gil, Gustavo Bou and Tajon Buchanan, while hoping to make the most of a scoring chance.
Room was the star for the Crew in the first half as well, making two point-blank saves against Gil and Bou in the eighth and 24th minutes. The Crew struggled to get out of their own end and survived numerous dangerous moments, mostly created through Gil and Buchanan attacking the left side of the Crew defense.
While New England had control of the game at halftime, the Crew could have easily been ahead. On a cross from winger Derrick Etienne Jr., Zardes had an open net at the back post from less than 6 yards out but his header missed wide. In the 48th minute, Berry had a look close to goal that was saved by goalkeeper Matt Turner.
But Zardes wouldn’t miss on his next opportunity.
On a cross from right back Harrison Afful, Zardes got away a powerful headerfr. Turner got a touch on the shot , but couldn’t keep it out.
It was nicely set up for the Crew to steal three points and cut into the deficit for the final playoff spot in a game no one expected them to win. However, with a self-inflicted error, the Crew coughed up the lead.
Center back Jonathan Mensah gave up the ball on a simple pass to center back Josh Williams. Buksa finished his one-on-one opportunity against Room.
Still, the Crew made 37 clearances and did something they haven't done for most of the season but have now done for two straight games: They found a way.
"A lot of guys dug in and we just went to battle," Williams said. "You got to put your body on the line and we had a lot of guys doing that."
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