Last Saturday, Gregg Berhalter’s side finally earned their first win of the season over NYCFC. Ethan Finlay opened up his 2016 scoring account in the seventh minute, Justin Meram was extremely impactful with two goals and the eventual game-winning goal and Kei Kamara was lively from start to finish. While those are all positive takeaways, nobody in Columbus had expectations of a 1-3-2 start to the season. So that leads to the next question, what is wrong with Crew SC?
1. Composure in front of Goal
In 2015, Columbus was known as perhaps the most potent attack in Major League Soccer. Their efficiency and overall goal-scoring prowess propelled them all the way to the MLS Cup Final. Unfortunately for their supporters, it has not been more of the same through the first six matches of 2016.
Currently, Columbus is managing to average 13.7 shots per match, just over four of those are typically on target. Their three goals against Patrick Viera’s side matched their total for the previous five matches. With players like Federico Higuain, Kei Kamara, Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram, three goals in five matches is simply unacceptable.
Right now, it is hard to believe that Crew SC’s attack will continue to be as pragmatic as it has been thus far. Through six matches this season, their scoring woes have not come from the quality of their chances. 70 percent of their shots have come from the center of the pitch, and in addition to that, 55 percent of their total shots have come inside the penalty area. Time after time, point-blank opportunities have presented themselves to Columbus and they have failed to capitalize.
2. Marking in the Box
Opponents had their way on set pieces and crosses more than the black-and-gold would have liked in 2015, and that trend has carried over into 2016. Whether it is organization or lack of heart is still up for debate, but their inability to mark in dangerous areas makes it hard to believe that this team can get back to the MLS Cup Final in an attempt to redeem their heartbreaking loss to the Portland Timbers.
David Villa took advantage of the weakness by scoring on this clinical cross and finish, just minutes after Finlay opened up the scoring for Crew SC at home. The build-up from NYCFC and eventual cross by Iraola were a thing of beauty. It was too simple for a player of Villa’s caliber to drift between two defenders to find himself unmarked eight yards away from goal.
3. Kamara’s Slow Start
In his first five games with the club in 2015, Kamara had three goals on nine shots on target. Entering last Saturday’s match with NYCFC, Kamara had yet to net his first goal of the season while managing just five shots on goal. While Kamara has been lively this season and seen a lot of the ball, he has been forced to drop deeper in to the midfield than before. Berhalter has been hesitant to place any blame on his MLS MVP candidate to this point, citing his fullbacks’ inability to get forward consistently as one of the reasons for the superstar forward’s slow start.
While nobody could deny that there have been chances that Kamara and the rest of Crew SC have simply missed on. Berhalter is insisting the quality of service needs to improve. “I want him in the penalty box and being aggressive and us giving him the proper service so that he can get on the end of these crosses,” Berhalter said about Kamara. Columbus scored the bulk of their goals in 2015 by getting the ball wide and serving quality crosses into Kamara, Finlay, and company.
On paper, Columbus has all of the tools to make another run at the MLS Cup, but matches are not decided on paper. For Berhalter to give his side another chance at a trophy, Crew SC needs to get these three things, among others, straightened out. Giving away easy goal scoring opportunities and not capitalizing on chances at the other end is not a recipe for success, and at least for now, the rest of Major League Soccer is looking to pounce on their opportunity to put Columbus out of contention.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
