Crew want more fight for pivotal match
Center back Vito Wormgoor didn’t mince words when asked what the Crew could have done better defensively in a 3-2 loss to Orlando City last weekend.
“Defend,” he said. “We need to defend better as a team, as a unit.”
The seventh loss in eight games happened without six regular starters, and with a disappointing performance from a few of those asked to fill the void. Getting five of those six starters back — all but one seeming likely to start — against Inter Miami on Saturday night couldn’t come at a more crucial time.
The Crew (7-10-6, 27 points) are three points back with one more game played than the team they’re chasing in the seventh and final playoff spot in the East. Miami (7-9-5, 26 points) has played two fewer games than the Crew and has earned 16 points (4-1-4) in its past nine games.
Their last game showed that somewhere in the past eight games the Crew lost that edge of doing whatever is necessary to win — a major reason they’re in this position with 11 games to play. They feel confident that getting a number of key players back should restore what has been lacking.
“I think what I’ve seen is we’re always right there and we’re organized, but we’re just making mistakes in moments, and a lot of it is just getting 11 guys who can perform under pressure,” Crew coach Caleb Porter said. “With more options available, that’ll help for sure.”
The players expected to return to the starting lineup are center back Josh Williams, midfielder Liam Fraser, winger Luis Diaz and striker Gyasi Zardes. Porter said Zardes is still fit after missing a couple of weeks whereas left back Milton Valenzuela hasn’t played since July 3 and will likely be an option off the bench.
Center back and captain Jonathan Mensah will miss a second straight game because he has to quarantine coming back from international duty. Fraser won’t miss the game because Major League Soccer does not require vaccinated players to quarantine when returning from other countries.
Williams made his first appearance since July 19 last week against Orlando, immediately making an impact by winning duels and being a vocal leader. His presence showed the type of grit and toughness that has not been a defining trait of the defense like it was last season.
There’s only one way for the Crew to rediscover that quality.
“You can talk as long as you want about it,” Wormgoor said, “but what you need is a victory and get the confidence up again.”
The Crew need points on the road, and Miami is the only team left on the away schedule that isn’t above the Crew in the standings. A win, or even a draw, seems essential, along with an improved team willing to do anything to get those results.
“This week for me is all about who’s going to be on board in this fight to make the playoffs in the last 11 games,” Porter said. “I finally have options to pick a group that I think — not think, I know — will be up for it, and not nervous about it but excited for it, and ready to go and get the job done.” jmyers@dispatch.com
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