‘Routine’ play and bad turnover cost Crew
The Crew gave up more chances than it would have liked in a 3-2 loss to Orlando City at Exploria Stadium Saturday night, and the three goals conceded were preventable in ways the team has seen too often this season.
Without captain Jonathan Mensah, the back line was clearly unorganized until Josh Williams made his first appearance since June 19 in the 54th minute, entering for Aboubacar Keita.
“This next week of training is going to be the best training we've had all year,” Williams said. “There's only one thing to do there, and that's to grind and learn how to step on people's throats. We lost that somewhere along the line and we need that back.”
Here are some takeaways from the match.
Trend of early goals conceded reappears
The first 30 minutes against Orlando felt fairly similar to the first three games of the club's recent six-game losing streak: The Crew would play decent enough to think they were getting closer to eventually scoring only to give up multiple goals on mistakes.
In his postgame comments, Porter was most frustrated with the first goal allowed, saying — without mentioning his name — that Keita didn't make the routine play.
“I thought the two mistakes on the goals were poor, especially the first one,” Porter said. “We're in the game, 30 minutes, here we are. We're starting to get a few, knocking on the door getting a few chances. Everything's set up for us, and routine ball over the top, we fall down, and it's 1-0. Those goals can't happen.”
Center backs struggle
Porter said he thought Vito Wormgoor
played pretty well and showed the passion he was looking for from his defense. No one would doubt Wormgoor's aggressive style is passionate, but he wasn't sharp at some key moments.
In addition to the first goal allowed, Wormgoor made an error in judgment in the 84th minute when he stepped toward Orlando midfielder Mauricio Pereyra on a counter-attack. Wormgoor was nowhere close to winning a challenge.
Keita and left back Waylon Francis
had difficult nights. Especially in the first half, the left side of the defense had issues marking players and defending combinations around the penalty area.
Miguel Berry notches a goal in a starting role
Berry earned a start against Orlando after scoring two late goals in the win against FC Cincinnati in the club's previous game. In the 54th minute, he took advantage again.
Now with four goals in only 265 minutes, Berry has solidified himself as someone who should receive ample time in every game right now.
“He's such a bright spot right now,” Porter said. “This kid is really emerging as a big player for us. Obviously, he's got to continue to do it consistently, but just love his hunger, love his energy. I love that he's taking his chances.” jmyers@dispatch.com @_jcmyers