Why Igbekeme started over Morris, 'bad mistake' on second goal in Columbus Crew's loss at NYCFC
Surviving these four games in May — three on the road — against teams who are considered likely MLS Cup contenders is the Crew’s most difficult task so far this season.
Following a 2-2 draw at New England Revolution last week, there was a sense of confidence that permeated through the Crew’s training facility that never manifested itself on Saturday night at Yankee Stadium against reigning MLS Cup champs New York City FC.
Talles Magno gave NYCFC (5-3-2, 17 points) the lead less than 10 minutes in, behind strong passing connections through the Crew’s midfield. Then in the second half, Valentín Castellanos showed why he’s considered one of the best strikers in MLS to score the decisive second goal in the Crew’s 2-0 loss.
"Very talented team, and talented teams will punish you," coach Caleb Porter said. "I thought today we got punished for a couple timely goals, or untimely on our part ... especially the second goal was a backbreaker."
Down 1-0 after Magno scored in the ninth minute, the Crew (3-4-4, 13 points) started to put pressure on the NYCFC defense about 20-25 minutes in, mostly through Derrick Etienne Jr. and Steven Moreira on the right side. More than twice, Etienne got into or close to the penalty area down the right side and was often blocked on the cross.
The best chance the Crew created all match was in the 34th minute when James Igbekeme got a pass from Etienne about 14 yards from goal and sprayed it wide.
With a bit of the momentum entering the second half, the Crew were put on their heels almost immediately. Castellanos had two good looks at goal on crosses into the box that he headed just over the bar, before finishing his sixth goal of the season in the 57th minute.
The play began with Luis Diaz getting fouled on the right side about 25 yards from goal. As Crew center backs Jonathan Mensah and Josh Williams started to come up to get involved in the set piece, Diaz played a short pass to Lucas Zelarayan.
Zelarayan was dispossessed and Maxi Morales made Mensah and Williams pay with a ball over the top, which gave Castellanos an easy, chip finish against goalkeeper Eloy Room.
"That second goal for me was deflating," Porter said. "I didn't think from there we did much."
The Crew had its worst game in the attack this season. They failed to register a single shot on goal and were beaten in expected goals 2.74 to 0.60.
Porter talked throughout the week about how technical NYCFC is and the challenge it presented for a defense that has been spoken about as reliable as the Crew try to get points before the attack gets a lift this summer from a striker.
In what likely could have been a worse final score, the Crew saw the separation between them and the teams who are expected to contend at the top of the league.
"I thought we played very well after we gave up the (first) goal and I told the group we got to punish them back," Porter said. "With all our good play, we got to find the goal to level it before halftime. But really thought with the way we were playing in that first half, I thought we would claw back into the game. Then the second goal was a really bad mistake on our part."
Why James Igbekeme started over Aidan Morris
With Zelarayan in the starting lineup for the first time in four games because of a lingering knee injury, Porter said the decision was to take out either James Igbekeme or Aidan Morris.
Though he rolled with Igbekeme in the midfield trio with Darlington Nagbe and Artur, it doesn't mean every game Morris will be on the bench. For this game, Porter said the decision came down to a few factors.
"We ultimately decided on James because that gave us the tactical flexibility to go into a 4-2-3-1 without making a sub if we needed to. That was a big reason," he said. "Second reason, on a narrow pitch, we felt James would be a little bit better under pressure. They're a very aggressive pressing team and he's a left-footed player, and our plan was for him to be on that left side playing Lucas through the lines."
Morris did not play.
Zelarayan had four of the Crew's nine shots and completed 65% of his passes. Porter was pleased with his performance on the left wing and running into the middle of the field in his traditional attacking midfielder role.
"I actually thought he did pretty well on the wing in the attack," he said. "Found good spaces, was able to play some final balls and we were able to keep our rhythm through the midfield three. There were a couple of defensive positional issues, but not major stuff. We adjusted pretty seamlessly to that."
Key play
Zelarayan was dispossessed at the top of the NYCFC box in the 57th minute when Morales got on the ball. Morales saw Mensah and Williams were out of position and made the game-sealing assist.
Man of the match
NYCFC forward Valentín Castellanos: scored the goal that put the game away, registered six shots
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew shut out at defending MLS Cup champions NYCFC
