On Saturday night, the Columbus Crew found themselves trailing within a minute. The deficit then doubled, but the side bounced back on the road and earned three points in Hell is Real.
On Wednesday night, the Crew once again conceded an early goal, then another in the first half. However, despite creating attacking opportunities, the Black & Gold couldn’t mount a comeback, as they lost, 3-0, at Nashville SC.
“I said to my players, when we make this mistake twice, this is not a mistake; this is a decision,” head coach Wilfried Nancy said after the match. “This is so difficult emotionally and physically. The Cincinnati game, we were down 2-0. To come back, physically it was difficult, but also emotionally. We start the game and we start well, and suddenly, we concede a goal because of a lack of communication and decision-making a little bit quicker.
“It was not a good start. The second goal, also on transition, really well played the two really beautiful balls that they put. Again, we have to be better because we were in between so we got punished. To come back, yes, we were close maybe to score a goal, but we didn't do it. This is so difficult.”
The loss snapped a five-game unbeaten run, which included four wins – two of which were against clubs ahead of Columbus in the Eastern Conference standings.
As things stand, the Crew sit fourth in the Eastern Conference with 41 points from 23 matches. With 11 games remaining in the regular season – beginning with Saturday night’s clash with D.C. United at Lower.com Field – there’s still time to make up ground.
“Yeah, obviously we have some big wins. We had some big wins in the last games, but this game would have been really important to us to win as well,” Dániel Gazdag said. “Nashville [SC] is in front of us, and we would like to beat them today to take over their place in the table. We weren't able to do that, but we keep going. We have many games left, and we will go until the end to get the best position we can and to try to play at home in playoffs if possible.”
Saturday is a great opportunity to start another unbeaten run. D.C. sits 14th in the Eastern Conference standings. The bigger storyline, though, is Guillermo Barros Schelotto will be inducted into the Crew Circle of Honor, pres. by OhioHealth.
In addition to fans receiving a Barros Schelotto bobblehead upon entry into Lower.com Field, there will also be a special halftime induction ceremony for the former MLS MVP who helped the Black & Gold lift their first MLS Cup in 2008 and win the Supporters’ Shield.
Oh, and don’t forget the Crew will unveil their new Heritage Kit, which the club launched on Wednesday morning. The shirt, which is an ode to the team’s early years, features the original 1996 shield.
The match also marks the first time Columbus will wear the original crest at Lower.com Field.
