More misery
Crew’s woes continue with stoppage-time goal
Pedro Santos sprinted toward the Crew supporters’ section in the northeast corner of Mapfre Stadium, leaped Sounders 2, Crew 1
in the air and jolted his arm upward in celebration. The first Crew goal in 312 minutes of play, plus stoppage time, undoubtedly was a breakthrough.
The breakthrough that the team needed next was a win and three points, something it hadn’t earned in almost two months.
That didn’t come. Only heartbreak.
After a penalty kick and a video review added nine minutes of stoppage time to the second half, Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro — who already had tied the score on a penalty kick in the 56th minute — went unmarked on the back post in the sixth minute of stoppage time and headed home the winning goal for a 2-1 victory over the Crew (5-13-2).
In the final moments, Crew forward Patrick Mullins headed a ball back across the goal to defender Alex Crognale, but he sent the would-be tying goal sailing over the bar from less than 5 yards out.
Five Crew players lay on the field on their backs in complete disbelief after what felt like would be the club’s first MLS win since May 8. It ended up being the club’s 12th loss in 14 games.
“The best word I can describe (the game) is painful,” coach Caleb Porter said. “You can’t win games by making some of the mistakes we’re making.”
For the first time since June 1, the Crew scored a goal in MLS play and scored the all-important first goal that has eluded them almost all season — especially while striker Gyasi Zardes has been away from the club with the U.S. national team.
The Crew finally got back on the board via Santos’ penalty kick in the 13th minute for a quick lift, but Lodeiro played hero.
In his first game back with the Sounders (9-55), he made every chance count. He converted the penalty and the winning header that broke the hearts of the Crew.
Goalkeeper Joe Bendik kept the Crew in the game with two crucial saves in the 10th minute, and then another on a bending right-footed shot in the second half. The totality of blown chances and a mistake on the final goal simply weren’t enough to avoid another loss.
Lodeiro’s final goal came off a throw-in that was headed back by the Crew to where Lodeiro was waiting instead of
it being cleared. The final mistake came on Crognale’s stunning missed shot.
“You always think you can do better on plays where you don’t finish, but I have to go watch it again,” Crognale said.
Mullins appeared to score the tying goal in stoppage time, but he was called offside before Crognale’s missed shot.
The Sounders are the first opponent to beat the Crew this season when not scoring the first goal.
“In this profession, those little mistakes cost you games,” Crew midfielder/defender Hector Jimenez said. “It just seems that we really can’t get out of the situation we’re in right now.”
jmyers@dispatch.com @Jacob_myers_25