The LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew SC battled to a 1-1 draw after severe weather delayed the opening kick by more than two hours.
The delay was called just about two minutes before the scheduled start of the match and play did not begin until 9:30, with the other two 7:30 MLS matches had already concluded.
Despite the delay, a large number of Crew SC supporters remained, and the game was a sellout at 21,051, marking the first sellout for the season, even with 700 seats added.
“It’s amazing,” Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark said on the fans who stuck around. “When I came out, I was blown away.”
With Mother Nature making an impact for two hours, and players not being sure whether the game would even be played, both sides took some time to get into the swing of the play, though the Galaxy would control play early.
Sebastian Lleget, who was added to the Galaxy starting lineup just before kickoff, made his first start a memorable one with a 14th minute goal after a give and go between Baggio Husidic and former Crew SC member Robbie Rogers, who passed it off to Lleget, who one-timed it into the net on the near side.
Crew SC would respond by controlling much of the action for the remainder of the first half. Justin Meram, who had quite the travel schedule, would be the facilator of much of the action and even had a chance at goal in the 16th, but it was deflected away from Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.
On Meram’s travel schedule, the 26-year-old played a match with the Iraqi National team at 7:00 AM Eastern time on Thursday, played 55 minutes for the Lions of Mesopotamia, then arrived back in Columbus at 6:30 PM. There, he received a call from Sporting Manager and Head Coach of Crew SC Gregg Berhalter.
“I had a conversation with him and he said he was ready to go, and I trusted him. He proved it with his play,’ Berhalter said after the game.
Did Meram expect this response from who he referred to as “the big guy”?
“No, not at all,” he said with a laugh. Meram did not even expect to go the full ninety, and said he expected “65-70.”
Not only did Meram go the full 90, but made a significant impact all over the field, including an early cross intended for Kamara that got kicked out for a Crew SC corner. After the match, Meram talked about his global travel. Meram said: “It was tough (to play after travel and another game) but I wanted to get back as soon as possible and help the team out.”
Meram would continue to make an impact, but Crew SC remained down at halftime at 1-0.
The start of the second half marked a noticeable change in the movement of Crew SC, and quick passing and an emphasis on team play was a noticeable improvement.
“We’ve talked about being patient and sticking to the gameplan and I thought we were able to do that tonight, even after going down 1-0.”
In the first fifteen minutes of the second half, Meram and Ethan Finlay would continue to create chances, as Finlay started the half with a cross that was forced out for a Columbus corner, and Meram would have two shots of his own.
Despite Meram’s contributions it was Finlay who ended up creating the chance which turned the night around for Crew SC. Finlay got behind the Galaxy defense down the side, and a well placed cross found the foot of Federico Higuain, who volleyed the low cross between the legs of a diving LA defender and beat Pinedo to even the score in the 66th. Finlay’s assist improved his already league lead in assists and also marks a career high at eight.
The two teams would go back and forth, but Meram’s night and journey were not done yet.
In the 82nd minute, the University of Michigan product would have the best chance for either side to gain three points when Hector Jimenez found Higuain who pushed it out to Finlay who then crossed it to Meram, whose header was somehow deflected over the crossbar by the palm of Galaxy keeper Pinedo. Despite multiple chances for Crew SC down the stretch, neither team was able to find a deciding goal, and the match ended at 1 all.
Despite only pulling out one point at home, Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter was satisfied with the performance.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Berhalter said multiple times during the post-match press conference. “At half time we knew; we knew we would get back into the game.”
LA Galaxy returns to league play against the Philadelphia Union on the 20th, as Crew SC will face the New England Revolution at home on the 24th.
