Crew’s slide continues ahead of key games
Crew coach Caleb Porter looked at the remainder of the regular-season schedule and decided he had to bench some regular starters on Wednesday night on the road against D.C. United. In doing so, he would keep his best lineup available for two critical games that could decide whether the Crew starts the MLS postseason at Mapfre Stadium or on the road.
His logic seemed sound, but the result fell in line with multiple other games that have not inspired confidence in the team’s ability to go on a run in the playoffs, which start in less than three weeks.
The Crew lost 1-0 to D.C. United, which entered the game with the second-fewest points in the league and having scored the second-fewest goals while allowing the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference.
As in a 1-1 draw at Houston on the
weekend, the Crew struggled to create offensively as it continues to search for continuity with midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Lucas Zelarayan back in the lineup. The defense also conceded the first goal for the fifth time in the past six games.
While this game might not earn as much scrutiny because of the lineup changes, the lack of offense and results continue to be a troubling sign entering the final three games of the regular season – two against potential playoff opponents.
“We just got broke down for the one goal and sometimes that's the difference in a soccer match,” Porter said. “Disappointing that we couldn't find a goal either because I sure thought we would.”
The loss was the club's fourth in the past seven games, in which the Crew has just five points. The Crew had a five-point lead atop the Eastern Conference with 30 points through 13 games but is now nine points off the top spot.
The Crew defense was solid, but it allowed the deciding goal from midfielder Julian Gressel in the 33rd minute on one of the only chances D.C. had all night.
Knowing that he didn't play his best lineup against D.C. United, Porter said the Crew won't spend much time dissecting the loss to a team it should have beaten. What can be evaluated, however, is the quality of individual players in the attacking third of the field.
Midfielders Pedro Santos, Youness Mokhtar and Luis Diaz showed little quality around the penalty area when they had the ball at their feet. Forward Krisztian Nemeth, who has hardly had time to acclimate to his new club, put in a solid shift and had the Crew's best chance of the match off a cross from Chris Cadden in the 73rd minute.
“We create some chances, but the final third we have to be more clinical,” Nemeth said.
While the absence of forward Gyasi Zardes for a second straight game with a knee injury and having Nagbe and Zelarayan on the bench until the second half certainly impacted the Crew's prowess in the attack, there has been little push from other presumed scoring threats in recent games.
Since Sept. 28, the Crew is tied with Atlanta United for the second-fewest points in the East. To compete in the postseason, the Crew has to find a way to rectify its recent woes, starting Sunday at home against Philadelphia, which has the best record in the league.
“For sure the chemistry in the attack needs some time to get back to what it was,” Porter said. “I'm confident this Philly game that when we put the group together, prepare well in the next two to three days that we'll have a great performance.” jmyers@dispatch.com
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