Crew still believes it can make playoffs

Before the Crew can even start worrying about the three teams separating it from the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, it has to start moving up.

Since a 4-1-1 start, the Crew has slid into a tie for last place, nine points back of seventh-place Toronto. A 1-13-1 stretch is the team’s worst run over 15 games and has consisted of an unparalleled wave of injuries, international call-ups and eight losses decided by one goal.

Heading into a game Wednesday night at the Chicago Fire, it’s the latest one-goal loss that has reaffirmed coach Caleb Porter’s belief that the Crew can still squeak into the playoffs, though it would take a historic turnaround.

“(It) doesn’t do any good to think about a postseason spot because you have got to win the next game,” Porter said. “If we focus on improvement and on performance, individual and collective performance, then the result should come.”

A game Saturday against Orlando City was one of the Crew’s more complete performances of late, despite a 1-0 loss. Striker Gyasi Zardes should

have finished at least one of the prime scoring chances he had, and the club expects him to start doing so.

For most of the game, though, the Crew defense didn’t allow many chances on goal, which was an improvement. The only shot on goal it allowed ended up being the winner near stoppage time, which sums up why Porter believes the Crew is progressing.

“It’s been a strange year in terms of more good performances that haven’t led to results,” Porter said. “I believe you play well and your performance is good — yeah, there

are outliers where you give up a goal on one shot on goal. That happens in our sport. But over time it shouldn’t happen.”

The Crew had three more injuries Saturday and could be down to its fourth and fifth center backs if Jonathan Mensah misses another game because of a knee injury. Center backs Gaston Sauro and Josh Williams (concussion) have already been ruled out, and David Guzman is questionable because of a knee injury on short rest. Porter said Sauro will be out “a couple weeks” because of a quad injury.

New designated player Luis Diaz, 20, could make his Crew debut off the bench, and the team is awaiting the arrivals of goalkeeper Eloy Room and recently acquired forward Jordan Hamilton from Toronto. Both are awaiting their

work visas.

A full, healthy roster and focusing on playing a complete game have the Crew convinced it can turn its season around.

“The result is the last thing we got to focus on,” midfielder Hector Jimenez said. “If we check all those boxes through the 90 minutes, then the result will come.”

If there’s a silver lining, Porter said the team has learned more with the losing streak and injuries than it would have otherwise. Porter was adamant there’s enough time to beat the odds, somehow make the playoffs and position itself well for next season.

“I think it’s going to be scary, I really do, what we’re going to eventually do here at the end of the year and next year,” Porter said.