The 3-0 lead Columbus Crew SC held after the first half against Toronto City FC likely feels like a distant memory, after Columbus gave up three goals in the second half of that match on Saturday July 25th. Fast forward another week and Crew SC gave up five unanswered goals to Orlando City SC in a 5-2 defeat where the second goal came on a stoppage time own-goal.
In the last 135 minutes of play, Crew SC has been outscored by an 8-2 margin.
“I felt like we rolled over and made it easy on them,” Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said of his team’s performance.
The first five minutes could not have gone much better for Crew SC, as Justin Meram bent a pass around the Orlando City defense and found Federico Higuain right in front of goal, who promptly delivered the ball into the back of the net, putting him sixth on the Columbus Crew SC all-time scoring list with his 33rd goal for Columbus and sixth goal of the season.
For the first time this season however, Crew SC would lose after scoring first. Orlando City rookie Cyle Larin responded right away by gaining position in front of goal and easily roofing a cross to even the score.
Kei Kamara nearly answered right back with a powerful header, but Orlando’s Tally Hall tipped it over the post and away. The following Crew SC chance brought some controversy and flashed back to Columbus’ last trip to the Citrus Bowl where captain Michael Parkhurst was sent off after being called for a handball that many felt was unintentional and thus undeserving of a red card, Orlando’s Tyler Turner blocked a Tony Tchani chance with what appeared to be his upper arm, ringing the ball off the post and out. No call was made.
Orlando seemed to want to make sure that call would not be cause for controversy and looked to put a few more on the board. Kaká chased down a ball at the end line, passed it off t Darwin Ceren, who’s original shot was blocked by Parkhurst, but it fell right back to Ceren’s feet and he left no doubt, blasting his second chance shot into the top corner across from Clark.
After the break it was much of the same, as Larin found an opening right in the middle of the box, received the ball and had enough space to fire it past Clark to make it 3-1 Orlando. Aurelien Collin and Cristian Higuita would make it 5-1 Orlando, with Higuita’s goal being assisted by Kaká.
The box score would look slightly better as Orlando’s Collin tacked on an own goal in extra time, making the final score 5-2 Orlando City SC, breaking Crew SC’s three match unbeaten streak in a big way.
After the match, Berhalter called the performance “below average” and “not up to MLS standards.”
But the players remained optimistic, knowing that the team has had an incredible season thus far.
“We’re excited to go back on the field,” Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark said.
Columbus Crew SC will be back on the field next Saturday August 8th against the Colorado Rapids, where Kamara, Ethan Finlay and Waylon Francis will return to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, where the trio played in the MLS All-Star Game on July 29th, where the MLS All-Stars defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-1.
