No letup in Crew frustration
With the return of veteran leaders Gyasi Zardes and Wil Trapp, Crew SC decided Orlando City 1, Crew 0
to view Saturday’s game at Orlando City as the start of a 14-game season.
A 14-game season that the club had no choice but to win the overwhelming majority of its games to have a shot at making a third straight postseason appearance.
Nearly at full strength, the Crew held down its side of midfield while it struggled to break down an
organized Orlando City back line — at least for 84 minutes.
Orlando defender Lamine Sane booted a ball down from behind the midfield line down the right wing for right back Ruan, who ran onto it approaching the Crew end line. He swung a cross in that connected perfectly with rookie Benji Michel for the only goal of the game in Orlando’s 1-0 victory.
Crew defender Harrison Afful ripped a shot in the 88th minute that was parried away by a diving Orlando goalkeeper Brian Rowe to preserve the lead for Orlando. Zardes had his chance to be the hero in the 90th minute on a cross from Harrison Afful, but he headed it straight down into the grass from 4 yards out and the ball bounced over the goal.
The Crew (5-14-2) had two shots that went off the crossbar in the first half but couldn’t find any late-game magic after conceding a late goal for the club’s fifth straight loss and 13th loss in 15 games.
Orlando (7-9-4) had an opportunity early in the 73rd minute off the foot of Santiago Patino from less than 10 yards from the goal, but it was blocked by Crew center back Josh Williams, who spoiled a few stellar chances in the box for the home side.
Zardes nearly put the club on the board in the first five minutes with a shot that hit the crossbar. Midfielder Pedro Santos slid the ball across the box to Zardes, who lifted it just enough to carom off the bar and out of danger.
In the 18th minute, Santos attempted a cross about 40 yards from goal on the right side that traveled too deep and ended up hitting the top of the crossbar.
Just as it was starting to get a few players back, the Crew couldn’t escape the injury bug. Center back Gaston Sauro came off the field in the 25th minute with an apparent leg injury. Sauro walked off on his own, and he was replaced by 19-yearold homegrown rookie Aboubacar Keita, who was notably put on the 18-man roster over center back Alex Crognale.
Orlando, playing its sixth game in 18 days, made six lineup changes from its previous game against the Crew on June 29. Nani, Orlando’s top scorer, missed the game because of food poisoning.
There was some late-game drama when Orlando forward Dom Dwyer hit Williams in the head with an elbow. Dwyer was sent off with a red card, giving the Crew
a man advantage, but only for about two minutes.
The Crew had several chances to get on the board after conceding Michel’s goal: the Afful shot, Zardes’ header and a second Zardes header in stoppage time that went just wide of the post.
It was the 10th game this season that the Crew was shut out.
jmyers@dispatch.com @Jacob_myers_25