Columbus Crew stadium: lower.com Field in downtown Columbus, Ohio
Drone views of Columbus Crew stadium: Lower.com Field in downtown Columbus, Ohio
It’s difficult to overstate just how big Club America is. They’re kind of like the New York Yankees, but in a bigger city, with a bigger stadium and a bigger trophy case. If you’re matched against Club America, you don’t just play a team, you play a country.
The Crew played Mexican powerhouse Club America Wednesday night and it was a feast for the senses. Club America’s supporters number in the tens of millions, and it felt like half of them were milling up and down Nationwide Boulevard in the leadup to the Campeones Cup. At kickoff, the new Crew stadium was stuffed to the rafters, and at least half the crowd was rooting for the visitors.
“Aguilas” they chanted. The Eagles.
“Columbus” countered Crew fans.
The tri-syllabic chants melded into one. It was crazy.
This was a match between the No. 1-ranked club in CONCACAF (Columbus) and the No. 3 (America, the winningest team on the continent). It was a crackling affair, infused with the color, joy and spirit of our soccer-loving neighbors to the south. And the Nordecke, which loves this stuff, was in peak form, as well.
Regulation ended in a 1-1 deadlock. Per the rules concocted for this made-for-TV event pitting the reigning MLS Cup and Liga MX champions, there was no overtime. It went straight to kicks, a most capricious arbiter.
Club America won in the seventh round, 5-4. America defender Nestor Araujo banged home the game-winner inside the right post. Crew keeper Patrick Shulte got a hand on the shot, but it was hit with such pace it would not be defeated.
Moments before, Crew defender Malte Amundsen, who had scored the home team’s lone goal in regulation, hammered his kick off the crossbar. Clearly, and there were a number of photos from the Nordecke to illustrate it, America goalie Luis Malagon was off his line.
Malagon was the Man of the Match.
“I’m simply devastated,” Amundsen said. “It’s hard to put into words right now. Some would say this is life, and it goes up and down. Sometimes the wind goes with you, sometimes against you. Today was against.”
Crew coach Wilfried Nancy lauded FIFA referee Walter Lopez for being comprehensive in his pre-kick instructions – the ball had to be placed exactly on the spot, and the keeper could move side-to-side but not forward. In this context, Nancy was miffed that the referee did not order a re-kick when Malagon came off the goal line prior to Amundsen’s kick.
“The referee said that it didn’t affect the shot,” Nancy said. “So, I don’t know. But the rules are the rules are the rules.”
According to the International Football Association Board and Rule 14, there is some subjectivity involved if a keeper comes off his line: “(T)he kick is only retaken if the goalkeeper’s offence (sic) clearly impacted on the kicker.”
The bottom line here is the Crew needed to put away Club America like they put away Tigres and Monterrey in their run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last spring. Otherwise, the FIFA referees come into play, which is never good.
It was a terrific game between two attacking teams that use similar, three-man back lines. Club America had the much better of possession in the first half and frustrated the Crew. It was 0-0 at halftime. Momentum swung. The Crew had the better of the chances in the second half, but either the finish wasn’t there or Malagon was. No doubt, when Diego Rossi’s head hit the pillow Wednesday night, he had visions of his missed opportunities – and Malagon.
America scored in the 68th minute on a counter. Forward Victor Davila, a second-half sub, got behind the Crew defense and finished off a 50-yard run by beating Schulte one-on-one. The Eagles’ fans went crazy. The Crew answered in the 77th minute on a corner. Rossi’s cross was flicked to the back post by Christian Ramirez, and Amundsen was there to scissor kick a shot to the back of the net. The Crew’s fans went crazy.
The Crew pressed for a game-winner in the latter stages – including three minutes of stoppage time, which Nancy seemed to indicate was a paltry addition – but the shootout was unavoidable.
“We lost the game,” Nancy said. “I told (the players), we won MLS Cup and learned from that. We lost the final in Pachuca and learned from that. At the end of the day, we lose, we learn. The message always was to tell them I’m proud of them. In two or three days, we’ll move forward.”
The Crew will visit the White House Friday. They’ll play at D.C. United Saturday.
They have accomplished much in the past 10 months – MLS Cup and Leagues Cup championships, runner-up finishes in Champions Cup and Campeones Cup. Their present task is clear: Catch FC Cincinnati for second place in the Eastern Conference or Inter Miami for the Supporters’ Shield, if that is possible, and it probably isn’t.
It’s all about playoff positioning now as they look ahead to their MLS Cup defense.
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Publish date : 2024-09-25 13:01:00
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