Columbus Crew SC's 3-2 victory at MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday saw the Black & Gold swing six seperating points in their favor by dismantling the New York Red Bulls — the team directly below Columbus in the MLS Eastern Conference table. Saturday's performance produced MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honors for game-winning goal-scoring center back Josh Williams and Bench honors for three-assist midfielder Federico Higuain.
Crew SC cemented crucial points in their push to the playoffs thanks to Williams's 66th-minute goal and Higuain's career-high 10th assist of the season. Crew SC holds a 97 percent chance to qualify for the playoffs — currently sitting as the fifth seed. New York remains locked in the sixth and final qualifying position.
Defensively, Williams sparkled next to center back partner Jonathan Mensah. Williams made three interceptions, won four aerial duels and completed 36 passes. His headed set-piece goal was his fifth career goal, and the first since 2013. With his goal, Crew SC struck a unique milestone in the 2017 campaign. Each of the Columbus defenders now owns either a goal or an assist this season.
After the match, Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said that he placed more emphasis on defenders contributing on offense in the second half of the season to offset the bulk of scoring that was coming from the attackers.
"You bring in a guy like [Pedro Santos] who can contribute and you ask more of guys like [Jonathan Mensah], like Josh, like [Alex Crognale], like [Lalas Abubakar] and say 'listen guys, you need to get on the end of this," Berhalter said. "The balls are good enough, now let's get on the end of it.'"
One of the players delivering those balls is Higuain. The midfield magician completed 56 passes in the match, including assists on all three of his crosses into the box. Fellow Argentine midfielder and Crew SC great Guillermo Barros Schelotto was the last player to achieve three assists — in the 2008 MLS Cup Final against the same team, incidentally.
The Black & Gold remain at home in the push for the playoffs when they play D.C. United on Saturday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Columbus closes the regular season on the road at Orlando City SC on October 15 and at New York City FC on October 22.
