After falling to D.C. United last week, Columbus Crew SC looks to rebound against Seattle Sounders FC. Andrew Maniskas/The Pit
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]f Gregg Berhalter’s squad plans to tally some more points in the Eastern Conference standings Saturday, it’s going to have to come at the expense of some former Black & Gold defensemen.
After feeding on some of the smaller fish this side of the Mississippi for a feast of goals, Crew held possession and relentless peppered the opposition with crosses, but it all yielded a disappointing 2-0 result to D.C. United, moving the conference’s best team into a tie for first place with the Revs.
With that behind them, MAPFRE Stadium and the Nordecke will surely give the next task on deck, Seattle Sounders FC, a noisy welcoming, looking to reverse a trend that’s seen the visiting side more successful as of late when the two clubs meet.
What to expect from Seattle Sounders FC
Starting XI (4-4-2): Frei; Remick, Marshall, Evans, Mears; Neagle, Pineda, Alonso, Pappa; Dempsey, Martins
Standings: 2nd, Western Conference, 16 points
Form: W-L-W-W-W, 12 points
If you’re even vaguely familiar with MLS, you know that the bark and bite of the Sounders attack is from the pair who lead the line in Sigi Schmid‘s formation. Often seamlessly, Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins have gone together like break and butter in terrorizing defenses with the way the two compliment each other in the final third. The U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder has shown plenty of swagger in Columbus in recent history, but was absent for the 2-1 Columbus victory at CenturyLink early last season, won on a beautiful short set piece and a curled effort in by Justin Meram.
Speaking of set pieces, the woes of last week are an exception, not the rule for Berhalter’s group, so if Seattle’s group is to bite, it’s more likely to come from the run of play. Quick counters just inside the opposition’s own half from giveaways are the type of mistakes that Seattle’s duo can feed off of, so the decision making from the central midfield will be key for Columbus. Berhatler’s men were susceptible to several occasions of the sort in that last meeting, and if Kenny Cooper can make you pay in those situations, you can bet that Marco Pappa is equally capable.
Gonzalo Pineda is the pivot man who moves the strings deep Seattle’s midfield bunch, and Mohammed Saeid may be the only midfielder stateside providing passes as accurate as Osvaldo Alonso.
Of course, the familiar faces are those at the heart of Seattle’s back four. The move to Seattle for Chad Marshall has worked out swimmingly for both sides, and he continues to play at a high level in 2015, among the top 10 defenders in the league in both interceptions and clearances. Evans, himself a prominent figure in club history, comes to MAPFRE still learning the trade of his new position at center back. The reviews have mostly been positive, partially precipitated at the club’s behest, but also one intended to prolong the shelf life of the versatile 30-year-old, and to make way for the young wide backs like Dylan Remick, who will provide one of the night’s more entertaining matchups with Ethan Finlay.
What to expect from Columbus Crew SC
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Clark; Grana, Parkhurst, Pogatetz, Francis; Tchani, Saeid; Finlay, Higuain, Meram; Kamara
Standings: 4th,Eastern Conference, 11 points
Form: D-D-W-W-L, 8 points
As one would expect, the final score from last weekend didn’t paint the same picture that many of the metrics did. As usual, the numbers in terms of possession and passing percentage favored the Black & Gold, but precision was lacking in the final third. Per usual, Berhalter’s outside defenders worked high up the pitch and were responsible for the numerous crosses delivered in, but save for all but perhaps Ethan Finlay, they simply didn’t offer enough.
Wil Trapp continues to make progress, but Saeid will continue to fill in next to Tony Tchani, and Berhalter will need a class performance out of both men from their distribution and marking to ensure a positive result. Like Pipa, the central midfielders seemed the least culpable of all in the most recent outing. Still, as Kei Kamara remains one of the few in MLS to keep pace in tallying goals with Deuce and Oba, this would be as good a time as any for Higuain to take one for himself, having been the engine that makes the others rev early in the 2015 campaign.
The task will be just as tall for the CB pairing, normally playing high up the field as Grana and Francis push themselves deep down the flanks. They’ll likely be counted on several times to make some critical decisions and have to be wary of diagonal balls played behind the line when Seattle smells opportunity.
Predictions
As the central midfield should continue to shine — and they’ve not been susceptible to much counter-attacking this season — it will be up to Meram, Finlay and the wide backs to test Seattle’s own young outside tandem. The Nordecke is (already?) going to be rocking for this affair, one which has seen a red shown in each of the past two meetings. I see both teams getting on the board, but that second goal could be elusive.
Columbus Crew SC – 1
Seattle Sounders FC – 1
*Report courtesy of Press Row Sports.
