When the Columbus Crew lost this past Saturday, 3-2, the general sentiment was disappointment – but things would’ve been different on a different day. The team had 14 shots on target, after all.
So, then Wednesday night came, and for the second time in as many matches, the Crew rattled off 14 shots on target. This time, though, the Black & Gold were rewarded with a 3-1 win over Charlotte FC at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
“Obviously, they had an incredible performance,” interim head coach Laurent Courtois said following the win. “Really happy because they work hard and they try a lot. Yeah, it’s good to see.
“We tried to put in a structure where they can express their best individual quality. We know that we have profiles of players that are not typical center backs or not typical fullbacks. A lot of players can go forward and have quality to create chances and score. You want to keep a balance and structure where we are solid defensively, too. Today they did both so it was great.”
All told, Columbus rattled off 33 total shots, a new club record. In the first half alone, the club set a new record with 22 strikes at goal. The previous record, 21, was set Apr. 24, 1999 – when FC Dallas was Dallas Burn.
Despite the offensive output, it was the visitors who struck first after 17 minutes.
However, Brais Méndez put the home side in front after 28 minutes with when he first timed a low, long-range strike after the Crew won the ball via a high press. Across all matches, the Spaniard has 11 goal contributions in 17 matches.
“I knew that if we kept trying, that it was going to go in at any point,” Méndez said. “It’s true that today we tried it even more but there are just times that it is harder to score. Today, it was tough but at the end of the day, the ball went in and we won, that’s what matters.”
In the second half, Columbus scored twice in three minutes: the 63rd and 65th minutes. The last time the Black & Gold scored two unanswered goals in a three-minute stretch was vs. CF Montréal on Sept. 9, 2022, when Jonathan Mensah and Lucas Zelarayán made the scoresheet.
As for Wednesday night, Anass Zaroury produced the game winner with a volleyed golazo that took a vicious bounce into the net. The goal was his first for the club, and it came from a perfect Mo Farsi cross.
“I'm very happy,” Zaroury said. “Very happy and delighted to have scored my first goal for the Crew. And yeah, I love shooting, also from outside the box, so yeah, I will keep trying and hope to get some more.”
Two minutes later, the lead doubled when Taha Habroune won the ball in a high press, then dribbled into the box and slotted home his second goal in as many games. He now has four this MLS campaign.
“We kind of spoke about it before the game,” Habroune said. “(Charlotte FC) like those type of passes to combine in between, and it kind of just popped up in my head, and I tried to read it, and it all worked out.”
With the win, things start sizzling …
On Sunday night, the Black & Gold head south down I-71 to play rival FC Cincinnati for the second Hell is Real Derby of the season. Of course, the Crew won the first meeting, 2-1, back on Jul. 25 in the Ohio capital.
As all Crew supporters – and FC Cincinnati ones know – the state’s first club has some memorable history down in the Queen City.
“We just have to stay confident,” Habroune said. “Honestly, for me, I think we have one of the best teams in the league based off players. You know, obviously the results haven't been showing that, but I believe we have the best players probably in the league. So, if we just keep that confidence up, I don't think there's anyone that can stop us.”
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