Columbus.-During the pregame press conference held by Crew SC legends, Alejandro Moreno was asked about the difference between the 2008 team that won the cup and this 2015 team. This was his response: “The major difference I see between that team and this squad is: the defensive shape of the team back then allowed the attacking crew of Guillermo[Barros Schelotto], myself, Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven to take chances going forward knowing that we had a group of players behind that would bail us out if we were not able to score enough goals…[this team]get on wide open games, they get excited, they get open, they get stretched, and that’s when sometimes they get punished. That didn’t happen in 2008.”
Defense win championships, right? Tonight Fanendo Adi scored twice, but it was Portland’s defense that won the game.
Tonight Columbus had the chance to climbed to the top of the East after New York’s defeat to Orlando. With the loss, they dropped to third place. By any means, their chance to stay in the playoffs group is compromised. But if Berhalter wants this team to get a step forward from last year’s stage, the defense must improve, a -1 goal difference won’t carry them through the first round in the big dance.
How is this team going to improve for what’s ahead? What does this defense need to do to take the next step up?
“The first thing is positioning when you don’t have the ball, and you hear some teams talk about that in the League. And it’s true, positioning in a way that it makes it difficult for them to start the attack, by winning that first ball and be in position for the second ball. I think today we made a fundamental error, on the second goal we weren’t organized and we can’t get an early pressure on the ball. You have to drop and we didn’t do that” Gregg Berhalter explained in the post-game press conference.
This is not the first time it happens. And it is their trademark weakness. Columbus allows their rivals to run the ball freely from the center line to the box with no significant pressure on the attacking midfielders, its almost like they just escort them in their routes. Tonight, when it was Portland’s turn to defend they got compact and waited with discipline in a double wall that didn’t open any gaps for Columbus to operate. The only way Columbus was able to score was through a set piece.
Diego Valeri controlled the tempo of the game; Adi scored the goals, but the real nightmare for Columbus was Nagbe. He was not only fast with his legs, but his mind was also one or two seconds ahead and when a player has that advantage can hurt an entire team.
Crew SC could never find the rhythm of its offense, they gave up a treasure named space, and the Timbers earned for the first time in Columbus in front of a sellout crowd at Mapfre Stadium.
Tough road ahead for Columbus with visits to New York and Toronto.
