Crew shows ability to close out wins

Many Crew SC fans watched the second halves of games last year short on oxygen, holding their breath in anticipation of a deflating goal by the opposition.

The result of the Crew’s uncertainty in the final 45 minutes: only six home victories in 2016 and an inability to establish momentum throughout the 34-game schedule.

Seven games into this season, the Crew (4-2-1) is beginning to resemble a team with the ability to close, especially at home.

After allowing a 73rdminute goal to David Accam of Chicago on opening day to drop a win to a tie, the Crew has gone three straight home games — all wins — without yielding a second-half goal.

The difference, coach Gregg Berhalter said Saturday after the Crew’s 2-1 win over Toronto FC, boils down to mental toughness.

“The guys got that belief late in the game (where) you know we’re going to be OK, we’re going to be fine,” Berhalter said. “You can see it this year that the guys are starting to believe that they can go down, (play) late in games no problem. They just keep grinding, and credit to them.”

The Crew has gone more than a month without giving up a second-half goal, the last coming from Erick Torres in a 3-1 loss at Houston on March 11.

A four-game stretch during which the Crew has gone 3-1 has brought the phrase “winning ugly” to the forefront. The Crew appeared to tire out Toronto in the second half Saturday, but still faced eight shots and remained on edge with a one-goal advantage.

Columbus will take the three points, forward Ola Kamara said, but will do so with the understanding that the victory could have been smoother.

“Getting three delicious points is always fantastic, but I feel like we have so much to improve in our game and I think that motivates us,” Kamara said. “We’re getting three points out of a little bit ugly game because we sacrificed for each other.”

Kamara said the team’s belief in its ability to shut down opposing teams is rooted in the Crew’s 2-0 win over D.C. United on March 18.

From there, the confidence has continued to grow.

On Saturday against one of the best attacking duos in MLS, Toronto’s Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco, a Crew team not known for its defense held firm for nearly 70 minutes to close out the game.

“I think overall (it’s) the mentality to defend for one another,” midfielder Justin Meram said. “You see how we swarm on the ball, just helping out the guy next to you. I think that’s been very well this year.”