Columbus.-
After winning El Clásico, Javier Mascherano said: “Soccer is everything, Is not just about Possession.” The Argentine might be right, but when the team doesn’t own the ball compromise the chances to win a game seriously. The Columbus Crew SC entered the game leading the League in that department, and The Red Bulls snatched the ball out of them and after 1085 days walked away with a 2-1 victory at Mapfre Stadium.
At the post game press Conference, Columbus Crew Head Coach, Gregg Berhalter accepted that his team was not on the required level to earn the three points in this match:
“I’m not going to make any excuses for this group; we talked about his depth that we had. We believe on the guys that were on the field today and we didn’t play well, we didn’t compete, we didn’t pass the ball well and in the en the result is what exactly should be right now”
Another red card, another penalty kick at Mapfre Stadium. Only this time the two calls affected Columbus in a negative way. The penalty was the only mistake Pogatetz committed in the entire game but it was enough to give New York the chance (that Bradley Wright-Phillips did not waste) to gain the lead. And in the red card.. Pipa just lost it, his temper betrayed him and abandoned the pitch against his will.
Higuaín put a lot of pressure on the final third. He didn’t get Robles all sorts of trouble every time the New York Goalie was trying to play with his back line. The Argentine has a free role in the Crew SC offense, tonight he was determined to be a finisher, not the builder. He usually drops behind the center line to connect with the holding midfielders and generate the attack from there. With him playing so high up the team lost guidance.
“We had no central midfield presence, and if you are trying to play you need that, and there was no one there. And that’s what happened in the game.” Berhalter Explained.
Kamara had at least three clear chances to score, In one of those attempts he try a spectacular bicycle but it didn’t work. Nothing worked offensively for the home team. Steindorsson was mentally removed from the game after getting fouled so many times by the Red Bulls, and Ethan Finlay is struggling to find his 2014 rhythm. Their only goal came from a corner kick that was converted by Holding Midfielder Tony Tchani in his return to the field after serving a game suspension.
All week long the talk was about the battle of the midfield, about pressing he rival and in the end was New York, who backed up what they said, Berhalter recognized it:
“Let’s give a lot of credit to The Red Bulls. They talked before the game, and they did it in the game. And I think that’s the difference right there. We talked it, but we didn’t back it up. They talked about pressing us, and we knew they were going to press us and they were still effective. And from our side it wasn’t good.”
The Crew SC is now 1-2-0 in 2015, and they have two tough road games ahead Vancouver first and then New England. Adjustments need to be made fast or they will find themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference soon.
@Espnino74
