While most of the league had the week off, Columbus Crew SC showed up big time in Week 4 with a huge win at home. What can we take away from the 2015 MLS Cup rematch?
The Portland Timbers came into Week four full of confidence. The Timbers were the only MLS club with three wins, and they’ve had the Crew SC’s number for years now. However, Portland left Mapfre Stadium, the site of their only MLS Cup win, with their first loss of 2017.
Columbus Crew SC proved that their win last week wasn’t a result of DC United being a weak club, however, a result of much needed changes in the Gregg Berhalter game-plan. Columbus were able to reward their fans with a huge win at home against the club that broke Columbus’s heart in 2015.
Here are three takeaways from the matchup at Mapfre:
The rookies steal the spotlight for the second straight week
Last week saw the MLS debut of Alex Crognale, and Crognale stole the show with an Acura Man of the Match winning performance. This week saw Crew SC first round draft pick Niko Hansen hit the pitch in his MLS debut after Justin Meram was subbed off late in the second half, and he certainly didn’t squander the opportunity, scoring the game winning goal just 14 minutes into his debut.
For the second week straight, the Acura Man of the Match went to a rookie making their MLS debut. The future is looking bright in Columbus with performances like these.
https://twitter.com/ColumbusCrewSC/status/846065938508271616
That’s not to say the Crew SC veterans didn’t show up. Pipa Higuain left the match with a huge assist and two shots on goal, as well as Justin Meram scoring the first goal of the match for Columbus. Ola Kamara was a beast on the pitch Saturday as well, leaving his third straight match having scored a goal.
Columbus finally get their revenge on Portland
The picture above is a heart broken Kei Kamara sitting alone on the pitch at Mapfre Stadium in 2015 after the Portland Timbers took the MLS Cup right from under Columbus Crew SC’s nose with a 2-1 final score.
In 2016, Portland would return to Columbus in the first match of the season to add insult to injury and beat the Crew SC again with a hauntingly familiar 2-1 score. The Crew SC would meet Portland one last time in 2016 when they traveled to Providence Park and suffered their 3rd straight 2-1 loss to the Timbers.
Well, it’s 2017 now, and Kei Kamara wasn’t there to see it, but Ola was, and the Crew finally got their win. Beating any club that’s on a three match winning streak is a confidence builder, but spoiling the so-far perfect season of the club that’s caused so much heart-ache in Columbus was a massive reward to the fans of the Black & Gold.
Crew SC are building momentum for the first time since 2015
The previously stated devastating MLS Cup loss at home in 2015 was the beginning of a looooong slump for the Black & Gold. The Crew SC couldn’t seem to lock in a win during the 2016 season, giving up late goals in almost every match.
After debuting their 2017 season by giving up a late goal to Chicago, Crew fans feared the slump may continue into this season. Houston Dynamo delivering Columbus a 3-1 beating in the second week didn’t help build confidence either. In week three Gregg Berhalter (finally) made some formation changes, as well as some positions changes, and now Columbus leave week four with two straight impressive wins.
For the first time since 2015 Columbus Crew SC seem to be a threat again after scoring a shutout win at RFK Stadium and handing the number one club in the league their first loss. Columbus Crew SC enter week five at the top of the Eastern Conference, with momentum finally back on their side.
And it feels good.
Next: USMNT: Player Ratings vs Honduras in 6-0 Victory
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