Tie sends Crew to knockout road game

NEW YORK — Zack Steffen did his homework.

In studying New York City FC forward David Villa’s past penalty kick attempts, the Crew goalkeeper and goalkeepers coach Pat Onstad noticed the 35-year-old Spaniard had a tendency to go left.

That bit of information came in handy in second-half stoppage time of the Crew’s regular-season finale at Citi Field, after a video review by referee Ismael Elfath revealed that Steffen had fouled New York City’s Maximiliano Moralez in the box.

Villa went left and Steffen made a game-saving stop, popping up and collecting the ball to preserve a 2-2 tie Sunday in front of 20,113.

“We had a feeling that he was going to that side,” Steffen said. “I kind of read his hips and fortunately I saved it.”

Steffen’s efforts late — the rookie made seven total saves and had a clean second half — were enough to save the Crew's unbeaten streak, which sits at 10 games.

It was not enough, however, for the Crew (16-12-6) to avoid a midweek playoff game on the road. An Atlanta tie against Toronto means the Crew finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with 54 points and will head to Atlanta for a knockout round game at 7 p.m. Thursday. Atlanta drew 71,874 for its Sunday regular-season finale.

Chicago fell 3-0 to Houston, meaning a win would have vaulted the Crew to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and secured a knockout-round bye. Forward Adam Jahn got decent pace on a right-footed shot on target in the fourth

minute of second-half stoppage time but couldn’t find the back of the net for a third Crew goal.

“We knew if we didn’t win the game we weren’t going to be able to control our own destiny,” coach Gregg Berhalter said. “A little bit disappointed not to win the game, but the performance was gritty and the second half was really good, really strong. We came back and competed. It wasn’t short on excitement.”

A few Crew players jawed at Elfath in the 57th minute, believing he had missed a NYCFC hand ball in the box.

A minute later, it didn’t matter.

Midfielder Federico Higuain curled a corner into the middle of the box, where center back Josh Williams rose up and headed the ball into the back of the net to bring the Crew level at 2-2.

The goal was Williams’ third in four games. He tied his career high in goals less than a month after ending a four-year scoring drought.

“I think it was just a belief,” Williams said. “To me, it’s all about a feel. You start to feel where the ball’s going. I’ve always had that. To me, it’s just a belief and it’s an instinct, and

I feel like that only comes with games.”

The goal was a wake-up call after a sloppy first half in which the Crew allowed two Villa goals to enter halftime trailing 2-1. The Crew’s only shot on target in the first half came on an Ola Kamara goal in the 11th minute.

A few players said Berhalter laid into the team at half. It worked in the sense that the Crew showed more life on offense in the final 45 minutes.

The Crew shook off the nerves that were evident in much of the first half, opened up NYCFC a little more and made aggressive substitutions in Kekuta Manneh and Jahn.

After a trying week in which team ownership announced it will consider moving the franchise to Austin, Texas, after the 2018 season, the Crew left Citi Field with two feelings: disappointed not to earn a bye, but heading to Atlanta fearing little.

“I don’t care where we play now,” Williams said. “Atlanta, there’s going to be 70,000 people screaming there, but why not go there? Why not take them down?”