Preview, prediction: Points on the road necessary in difficult stretch for Columbus Crew
Being better on the road was one of the Crew’s stated goals entering the 2022 season. At no point may that be needed more than the next four games before a 20-day break between games.
"We need to pick up a win on the road. That's the mindset right now,” coach Caleb Porter said. “We've been pretty solid on the road, we've taken three draws. But we want that first win.”
Beginning Saturday in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Crew’s next opponents are last season’s Supporters’ Shield champion (New England Revolution) and MLS Cup champion (New York City FC), this season’s Supporters’ Shield leader (LAFC) and a team many expect to compete at the top of the Eastern Conference by season’s end (Atlanta United). All but the match against LAFC are on the road.
Since a win at Atlanta on Sept. 14, 2019 — excluding three neutral-site wins in Orlando — the Crew are 3-16-14 on the road in MLS games. Recent performances and results on the road have been much improved, but there’s some pressure to earn points against tough competition to avoid falling too far behind in the standings.
“The past two games we've gotten results. I think that's a positive considering the past,” midfielder Darlington Nagbe said. “Right now we're focused on getting the results.”
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Dating back to the end of last season, the Crew have gained seven points (1-1-4) in the past six away games and feel like they’ve played well enough to win all of those games, including in a loss to the East’s top team in Philadelphia and a tie at second-place New York Red Bulls. Entering Saturday, the Crew have turned a three-game losing streak into a little momentum with a draw at Sporting Kansas City and a win at home against D.C. United.
Those four points in two games came without star playmaker Lucas Zelarayan in the lineup. Porter said Zelarayan, who is dealing with right knee inflammation from an injury he suffered on March 20 against the New York Red Bulls, isn’t ready to start but will have a larger role than his 19 minutes against D.C. United.
“Obviously we want Lucas in there,” Nagbe said. “When he's in there we're a better team, no matter what formation we're playing. We've been doing well, but for me, I want him in there, scoring goals and creating chances for us.”
Without Zelarayan starting, the Crew have switched to a 4-3-3 formation with Aidan Morris joining Nagbe and Artur in the midfield and James Igbekeme playing on the wing. This change has allowed the Crew to stay more compact defensively and try to score on the counter attack. Last week’s three-goal affair snapped a scoreless streak of more than 360 minutes in MLS play.
Once Zelarayan starts, the Crew will have to take off one of Morris, Igbekeme, Derrick Etienne Jr. or Miguel Berry if they stick with a 4-3-3. But right now the Crew appear to have found something with the group that played against D.C. United.
"There's been a lot of pressure on our offense lately, but I've always said (defense) starts from the top and comes back,” center back Josh Williams said. “Even though we're not scoring, the team defense has been really locked in lately. That's something we look to continue not only in this game but throughout the rest of the year.”
For the Crew to secure a third straight clean sheet, they will have to limit the production of reigning MLS MVP Carles Gil. The Revs were hit early with injuries while playing midweek games in CONCACAF Champions League, but Porter said they’re returning to form.
Designated player Gustavo Bou is listed as questionable with an upper-leg injury and could get his first minutes since March 16. He scored 15 goals with nine assists last season as the Revs broke the MLS regular-season points record.
"They're kind of back on the wheel,” Porter said. "We have a good read on them. We know what we need to be aware of. We also know how we can exploit them in a few ways.”
New England Revolution
Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
Matt Turner (goalkeeper), Joevin Jones (left back), Henry Kessler (center back), Andrew Farrell (center back), Brandon Bye (right back), Matt Polster (midfielder), Tommy McNamara (midfielder), Damian Rivera (left winger), Carles Gil (attacking midfielder), Sebastian Lletget (right winger), Adam Buksa (forward).
Player to watch:
Carles Gil is the unquestioned playmaker for New England. The designated player has three goals and four assists through nine games. If Bou is back in the lineup, the Revs’ attack will be at full strength for the first time since the beginning of the season.
Columbus Crew
Starting XI (4-3-3):
Eloy Room (goalkeeper), Pedro Santos (left back), Josh Williams (center back), Jonathan Mensah (center back), Marlon Hairston (right back), Darlington Nagbe (midfielder), Artur (midfielder), Aidan Morris (midfielder), Derrick Etienne Jr. (left winger), James Igbekeme (right winger), Miguel Berry (forward).
What to watch:
The lineup shouldn’t deviate at all from last week. The main question will be how many minutes will Zelarayan get, and how does that change the Crew’s set-up? The answer should give an idea as to what the Crew will do to start a game once he’s ready for 90 minutes.
Prediction
New England 1, Columbus 1: The Crew could consider themselves a bit fortunate after last week’s 3-0 win against D.C. United. They gave up a decent number of chances despite holding onto the clean sheet. Against New England on the road, one of those chances likely goes in. But the Crew seem to be able to create in transition enough to get a goal and a draw they’ll gladly take back to Columbus.
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Crew at New England
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Preview, prediction, lineups: Columbus Crew at New England Revolution
