2017 Columbus Crew SC Report Card: Week 10

Before we issue the match grade for the Columbus Crew SC, we will analyze and grade three key individual performances we feel impacted the match in one way or another.

Zack Steffen: A+

The star that is Zack Steffen shines bright in Columbus. Saturday’s match saw the 21-year-old keeper secure his third shutout of the season after an impressive five saves.

Federico Higuain: A+

Pipa was on fire Saturday night. If you only look at the stats, you may not understand how crucial Federico Higuain is to Columbus Crew SC, but if you only look at the stats, you must be pretty new to soccer.

Many accredited the Crew’s disaster of a season in 2016 to the lack of an injured Higuain, and 2017 is making that case even stronger. Federico Higuain’s vision and ability to find striker Ola Kamara is incredible. Time and time again Higuain’s path will be cut off by multiple defenders, only for the veteran to show why he is worth that DP money and place the perfect through ball for Kamara.

Acura Man of the Match, MLS Multiplex’s Report Card agrees. Columbus loves you, Pipa.

Gregg Berhalter: A++

After a blatant clothesline from New England player Je-Vaughn Watson to Niko Hansen only ended in a yellow card, Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter was seeing red.

The aftermath wasn’t caught on camera, but sources say Berhalter kicked a ball onto the field, which was what got him sent off. However, if looks could kill, the entire referee staff would have been dead on the field.

Berhalter will have to serve an automatic one-match suspension as a result.

While some may criticize the head coach for his reaction, I stand firmly behind Berhalter. Check the “Team Grade” for the explanation.