Two good teams went to battle Saturday night at MAPFRE Stadium, but only one emerged the victor. Columbus Crew SC finished with a disappointing 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls, but they were not one to make excuses for a performance that was at times lopsided and inconsistent.
“We talked it, but we didn’t back it up,” Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter commented. “From our side it wasn’t good. I am not going to make an excuse for this group. We talk about the depth we have. We believe in the guys that were on the field today. We didn’t play well. We didn’t compete well. We didn’t pass the ball well. In the end the result is exactly what it should be right now.”
The crowd that braved the frigid weather were treated to a back-and-forth affair highlighted by a lively first half. While there were no goals in the first 45 minutes, there was also no shortage of opportunities.
New York’s Sal Zizzo, who showed great pace in the attack, launched a header off the crossbar in the 10th minute before Crew SC midfielder Ethan Finlay saw his shot saved wide just a minute later.
The big signing of the Crew SC offseason, Kei Kamara, almost came away with a goal of a lifetime in the 35th, narrowly missing out on a scissor kick towards goal.
The first half ended up being a scoreless one, but the second half was a different story.
A poorly timed tackle on Lloyd Sam gave the Red Bulls a chance at a penalty kick, which Bradley Wright-Phillips converted in the 49th. Tony Tchani, the consensus choice for Subside Sports Man of the Match, snagged the equalizer for Columbus just nine minutes later with a great individual effort.
Unfortunately the wheels would come off for the Black & Gold in the remaining minutes as Mike Grella floated a shot up and over Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark in the 67th to push the visitors up 2-1. To make matters worse, Federico Higuain would be sent off in the 83rd minute after receiving a second yellow card, leaving Crew SC short-handed. They didn’t give in, but couldn’t find another goal either, falling in just their second home match of the season.
It’s very early in the season and the Crew have a lot left to accomplish. It’s certainly not a time to panic or worry.
“It’s time to realize that teams are really coming in with good gameplans,” Clark added. “We can play through that. We need to stick to our plans and continue working. We are three games in.”
Following a bye next weekend, Crew SC returns to the pitch on Wednesday, April 8 at 10:00 p.m. ET when the club takes on Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place.
