Short-handed Crew still dominates in opener
For a first game of the season with key players out of the lineup, there’s not much to criticize about the reigning MLS Cup champions.
Scoring all four goals in the first half of a 4-0 win against Real Esteli FC in the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16, the Crew guaranteed its berth into the quarterfinals ahead of the second leg at Crew Stadium on April 15.
Caleb Porter went into Managua, Nicaragua, missing three starters — four if counting center back Vito Wormgoor, who missed all of last season with an ankle injury — and watched his team execute in transition and control the game from start to finish, despite not having the ball the majority of the time.
“I thought they had a few moments, certainly. But professional out of my guys,” Porter said. “Really professional, and it was pleasing to see us put four goals in, get a win and get a clean sheet.”
Here are some takeaways from the match.
Crew overmatched Real Esteli
Though the match felt at times like the 3-0 rout of the Seattle Sounders in MLS Cup, this was a completely different setting against a team that is significantly overmatched against the Crew.
To its credit, the Crew respected the opponent and treated the game like it would come down to the final minutes. Three goals from the 19th to the 33rd minutes was just an example of the Crew taking advantage of its significant edge in overall talent.
“Obviously, we were very opportunistic and clinical with our chances,” Porter said. “Our quality showed in key positions. Obviously, with Gyasi (Zardes) bagging a couple goals, it was great to see us be goal-dangerous and ruthless in transition and on set pieces actually.”
The Crew had two chances in the first minute off a set piece from Lucas Zelarayan. Aidan Morris and Luis Diaz were each stopped by Esteli goalkeeper
Alvaro Rezzano. Zelarayan got an assist on a set piece to Jonathan Mensah in the 26th minute, and the Crew earned a penalty kick on a handball from a Mensah header off a corner kick just before the end of the half.
Diaz smart, sharp in the attack
Without Kevin Molino and Harrison Afful, the Crew’s right side was a question mark. Luis Diaz played his best in the playoffs after a challenging regular season in 2020, but that was a small sample size.
On Thursday, there was no question he was the difference-maker in the attack and clearly showed an improvement in his decision-making in the final third without losing any of his danger on offense. After the shot on goal in the first minute, Diaz put another ball on frame in the fifth minute after getting behind the defense — a play more in line with how he played when he signed with the Crew in 2019. But the control he had on a pass directly in front of the goal to Zardes, and the quick, accurate pass he made to Santos in the middle of the box over the next five minutes were encouraging for a player with a ton of potential.
“We believe Luis is a very dangerous player,” Zelarayan said. “He’s having a great moment and is being supported by the midfielders, so we definitely need to take advantage of him right now.”
Zardes stayed on target
The striker will always be noticed when he scores, but Zardes’ first goal of the night came from a part of his game that makes him a great fit in Porter’s system.
Zardes is one of the better defensive and pressing forwards in MLS. When Esteli defender Oscar Acevado made a poor touch after intercepting Zelarayan’s attempted pass behind the line to Diaz in the 19th minute, Zardes quickly reacted, stole the ball and then rotated his body all in one motion to get enough power on the shot to send it past the goalkeeper. jmyers@dispatch.com @_jcmyers