Columbus Crew look strong at home. Can they improve on the road, starting against Nashville SC?
Jacob Myers
Even if the Crew (10-12-7, 37 Pts) win their three remaining home games to get to 46 points, it most likely won’t be enough to make the playoffs. To have a shot at being one of the top seven in the East, winning one of the final two road games is virtually essential.
So the Crew need better performances on the road starting Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at second-place Nashville SC.
"We were six points away. Now we're four,” Crew coach Caleb Porter said of where they sit after a win against Inter Miami. “I think this group is in a very good mindset right now, locked onto the next game and slowly but surely we'll get closer and closer and get into touching distance of the playoffs."
Nashville (11-3-15, 46 Pts) is arguably the toughest team to beat in MLS this season with the fewest losses of any team — one fewer than Supporters’ Shield-leader New England — and unbeaten at home with an 8-0-7 record.
In their last road game, the Crew had perhaps their most disappointing performance of a disappointing 2021 season, losing 3-0 to the Philadelphia Union in a game with significant playoff implications for both teams.
In the first game after that loss and an international break, however, the Crew were dominant against their south Florida opponent. The offense created more scoring chances than any other game this season, scoring a season-high four goals — including a Miami own goal — and not letting Miami gain any traction in its attack.
Winger Pedro Santos had his best game of the year, scoring for the first time in the run of play since the game-winner against Nashville in last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals. Forward Gyasi Zardes captured MLS player of the week honors for the second time in four weeks. He has five goals in his last four games.
The Crew couldn’t carry momentum from back-to-back wins against Montreal and a Campeones Cup match against Cruz Azul to Philadelphia on its last road trip. This time they’re hoping it’s different. The Crew are 2-9-4 on the road this season, the sixth-worst road record in MLS.
“We have to be mentally strong, even if we have a setback,” goalkeeper Eloy Room said. “Previous road games, we get a goal against and we're a little bit lost for a couple minutes. That can't happen. We need to be focused and ready for every challenge. I think we're up for it.”
Led by center back Walker Zimmerman, Nashville has the league’s best defense (26 goals allowed) and an offensive trio in Hany Mukhtar, C.J. Sapong and Randall Leal who have combined for 29 of the team's 46 goals and 20 of the club's 46 assists.
An upset, even just a point at Nashville, would keep the momentum rolling for the Crew.
"They're pretty stingy. They don't give up much,” midfielder Marlon Hairston said. “I think right now we're catching them at the time where it's a good point for us to go there and get a result on the road coming off a game here where we scored four goals at home. We're confident right now."
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