'We like our chances': Columbus Crew confident ahead of Decision Day game in Orlando
Officially, the Major League Soccer playoffs begin Saturday with the first two first-round matchups. But as far as the Columbus Crew are concerned, Sunday's game in Orlando is where their playoffs begin.
All 28 MLS teams will play their final game of the regular season Sunday, with the Eastern Conference matchups kicking off at 2:30 p.m. and the Western Conference games starting at 5 p.m. – a loaded slate on a Decision Day that will determine the last two playoff teams in each conference. The Crew enter the day holding the seventh and final spot in the East with 46 points, but Orlando City is just one point behind and would eliminate Columbus with a win.
Mathematically, it isn't an absolute must-win game for the Crew as they need just one point to secure their playoff position, though Columbus is approaching this game as if it is.
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"Win the game, we’re in the playoffs," coach Caleb Porter said. "I know we can draw as well, but we’re not going to have that mindset going into the game. In a lot of ways, we are playing a playoff game. Playoffs start Sunday, because hopefully, when we win and we’re in, we’re going to have another game (next week) in the exact same situation, on the road, knockout game, where we’re going to have to get a result."
Orlando has struggled since winning the U.S. Open Cup in early September, with four losses and only one win in the five games since they beat Sacramento Republic FC 3-0 to win the Open Cup. But winning the Open Cup means Orlando has emerged victorious in six elimination games this season, and they're playing a seventh Sunday. While a draw is enough for the Crew to get into the playoffs, Orlando must win to control their fate, without needing other results to go their way.
The Crew faced a similarly desperate team in Charlotte on Wednesday, as Charlotte FC needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. And though the Crew's season-long issues with conceding late goals appeared again when Charlotte scored in the 93rd minute to tie the game 2-2, the Crew also take confidence from the way they played to get out to a 2-0 lead on the road.
"For me, we are one of the best teams in the league," midfielder Lucas Zelarayan said. "Sometimes, we have to close that game (better). I’m confident. I trust this team. We know that when we are good and play our football, no team wants to play against us. Hopefully, this Sunday, we will get the three points and we make playoffs. I’m sure that we can fight until the final."
Uniquely, Orlando has not drawn a game at home this year; they've won and lost eight times each. In contrast, the Crew have a league-leading 16 total draws, and 10 of those have come on the road. The Crew have also won three games as the visiting team, giving them a positive result in 13 of their 16 road games.
In that sense, then, it's almost poetically fitting that a team with more draws than any other MLS team needs just one more to secure a playoff position.
"We’ve been in nearly every single game the entire year," Porter said. "Very consistent, our mentality and our approach, our execution overall. That should give us confidence, because we know that we’ve been in every game against every type of team, every level of team along the way. We should have confidence because on the road we’ve taken results of 13 of 16 games. In a game where we need a win or a draw, if you look at what we’ve done on the road, we like our chances."
Columbus Crew
Record: 10-7-16, 46 pts., 7th in East
Projected Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Eloy Room (goalkeeper), Pedro Santos (left back), Miloš Degenek (center back), Josh Williams (center back), Steven Moreira (right back), Darlington Nagbe (central midfielder), Aidan Morris (central midfielder), Derrick Etienne Jr. (left winger), Lucas Zelarayán (attacking midfielder), Luis Diaz (right winger), Cucho Hernández (forward).
Injured: Jonathan Mensah (questionable, left thigh)
What to watch: Columbus is approaching this game as a playoff game. After a strong start in Charlotte to get a 2-0 lead, the Crew faded later in the second half when Charlotte became increasingly desperate. Orlando will bring that same level of desperation, and the Crew hope to use the lessons learned in Charlotte to come away with three points. Hernandez also hasn't scored since Sept. 13, and he rarely goes longer than two or three games without a goal. Expect him to be the linchpin for the Crew up front.
Orlando City
Record: 13-14-6, 45 pts., 8th in East
Previous Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Pedro Gallese (goalkeeper), Joao Moutinho (left back), Rodrigo Schlegel (center back), Antonio Carlos (center back), Kyle Smith (right back), Cesar Araujo (central midfielder), Mauricio Pereyra (central midfielder), Benji Michel (left winger), Junior Urso (attacking midfielder), Facundo Torres (right winger), Tesho Akindele (forward).
Suspended: Antonio Carlos (yellow card accumulation)
Columbus Crew prediction
Columbus 2, Orlando 1: Orlando is reeling from an ugly 4-1 loss to Miami on Wednesday. Their back line will likely be missing two starters in center backs Antonio Carlos and Robin Jansson, which will lead to more opportunities Hernandez and Zelarayan. In what's essentially an elimination playoff game, the Crew find a way to come out on top.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew at Orlando City Decision Day game preview, prediction
