Columbus.- At half time a severe weather alert delayed the game at Mapfre Stadium. It supposed to be a storm but nothing happened. The victory, that elusive lady does not want to dance with The Columbus Crew SC. She totally refuses to leave her seat, maybe because she doesn’t see herself with someone who can’t take the lead and sustain it. Toronto did not offer a serious opposition and still managed to get a point from Ohio.
Columbus finished the first half with sixteen Open Play Crosses, only one found a recipient. The formula to approach to Toronto’s goal wasn’t working because of the lack of accuracy of course, but it was also the lack of urgency. The hosts don’t go out with the intention to devour its rivals, they sense it and let the Black get lost looking for the Gold.
The idea of having Dilly Duka as a playmaker looked good on paper. On the pitch, it was a different story. The attacking midfielder couldn’t deliver the performance that is required for the position, which is to organize the offense with precise ball rotation and leadership. His light is intermittent, he never had to carry a team on his shoulders, he constantly moved up to the left wing where he used to play, leaving a hole in the heart of his team. Justin Meram was well aware of the situation and filled the gap.
Toronto came with a plan: Do not walk away without a point. And they executed it like many teams did before at Mapfre Stadium. It was kind of ambiguous because even though they defended with a line of five in the back, they let Columbus go deep, there was not a ton of pressure. The Canadians let the host get close, but not that close. It was a kind of “You can see, but you can’t touch” strategy.
Once again the inability to maintain a lead cost The Crew SC to lose vital points at home. It took only ten minutes for Toronto to even the scoreboard. All that effort to conceive a goal thrown away on a quick transition play from the visitors. No reaction, no pressure on the attackers, and space for the shot. What does this team needs to realize that hey won’t make the playoffs if they continue to play like this?
In their last six games, Crew SC is 0-3-3. Tonight they started a three-match home stand versus Eastern Conference rivals. This is the stretch where either they start climbing the ladder or the season begins to say bye to serious expectations. At one point the pieces will click again, not sure if the timing will be on their side.
