You can read about the Columbus Crew’s win over El Salvador’s Isidro Metapan, noting that new-man Nicolas Hernandez not only looked active and all right, but also scored the game’s lone goal; you’ll also read that the new-look back-line, anchored by Chad Marshall and Danny O’Rourke, held pretty well. But you can’t really appreciate how lopsided this game was until you check the box score at the bottom of this one: the Crew fired 20 shots to Metapan’s 3.
And you tell yourself, good stuff….until you do some math: 1 goal on 20 shots. Rut-roh.
I wish I had time to dwell on this a little more, but, because I’m pinned under life today, this will be a link-fest. And it’s a great thing that Crew coverage looks pretty good this year, so there’s plenty to pass on:
Columbus Dispatch (main paper, with all its dryness)
Covering the Crew (Columbus Dispatch blog; elbows are a little sharper on play and attendance)
An American Game (I like the vibe I’m getting from this guy)
According to the Crew’s official site, Columbus closed pre-season 6-4-0 – though I’m pretty sure they omitted a warm-up or three against college teams. Not great, but, in MLS, that’s playoff bound ain’t it?
Before I, or anyone else, gets too cocky, I feel compelled to point out that Soccer By Ives included the Crew in a post on what teams aren’t ready for the regular season. Another point – perhaps only somewhat related – bears noting: Toronto FC, the Crew’s opening day opponent, got on the wrong end of a public dumping by their head coach. What am I getting at? Even a three-legged bear can be dangerous when cornered – in other words, don’t all y’all go napping on opening day just because TFC looked like crap in pre-season.
Though it also bears mentioning that TFC made Soccer By Ives’ sorry short-list as well….and with considerably more justification…
Filed under: Columbus Crew, Danny O'Rourke, Major League Soccer, Nicolas Hernandez, preseason
