Saturday night provided an intriguing first test for head coach Wilfried Nancy and the Columbus Crew. Not only was Nancy coaching his first game with the Club, but his lineup included a new formation and new players replacing veterans who played those positions for years.
This first test came against arguably the most complete team in the league and the Philadelphia Union emerged victorious by a scoreline of 4-1 – but the Black and Gold showed glimpses of the team they’ll be as the side continues to jell.
“In terms of results, the result is difficult because I don’t think we deserved to concede four goals, but this is a good way to work and to improve,” Nancy said after the Crew’s 4-1 loss at the Philadelphia Union. “We don’t deserve these four goals, but Philly deserved to win this game.”
The Crew started the match on the front foot, as the visitors pushed to open the scoring. Eventually, they found their breakthrough in the 28th minute from a Jakob Glesnes own goal.
Captain Darlington Nagbe won the ball near the midfield stripe, then carried it toward the Union goal. Near the 18-yard box, he found Cucho Hernández, who then slotted the ball into the box toward Alex Matan. The Romanian was unable to get a foot on the cross, but Glesnes deflected the ball into his own net.
Momentum shifted just before halftime, however, when VAR awarded Philadelphia a penalty kick that Daniel Gazdag converted in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. The home side then scored seven minutes into the second half and produced a third in the 72nd minute, via another VAR decision and Gazdag penalty.
“This is difficult to talk about it,” Nancy said of the two awarded penalties. “Yes, it was handballs, and this is the new way to see football and soccer. I have nothing to say about that.”
The final goal came in the 80th minute, as Carranza scored his second. Nancy said that was the second time the Crew gave the ball in its own half and was punished.
But early in the season is the time to learn and grow. Whereas Philadelphia started 10 players who also started in the 2022 MLS Cup Final last December, Nancy deployed a lineup that included two players making their league debut, another making his first MLS start, and someone who hadn’t started an MLS game since 2021.
Patrick Schulte, the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro’s Goalkeeper of the Year, started in place of Eloy Room, who missed the match securing his U.S. Visa. Nancy said he opted to play Schulte because “he has all the potential to do something great.”
Philip Quinton also made his MLS debut having played with Schulte at Crew 2 last year. Quinton was the third center back in a back three containing Milos Degenek and Steven Moreira, and the debutant offered an encouraging performance.
“Phil Quinton, he did a really good first half and he showed his quality,” Nancy said. “This is a young player; this was his first game at this level. Now, we're going to start from this game because he’s going to be able to learn a little bit more about what he can do better. But he saved his team a couple of times. He’s pretty fast also, but now it’s all about playing more minutes.”
As for Matan, the winger made his first MLS start since Sept. 18, 2021, and played an influential role in the first half before being substituted at halftime.
“He had a good game,” Nancy said of Matan. “I know we lost, but we had a really good moment in this game and Alex was involved. …Now, I will challenge him a little bit more to keep going and be consistent. But for a first game, this is interesting.”
Nagbe’s post-match comments carried a similar tone to his coach, as he said this was a difficult start to the regular season, but there were positive glimpses of what the Crew will become in 2023. He also praised the younger players seizing their opportunity against the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
“They did a good job and were solid,” Nagbe said. “They looked comfortable. Nothing but praise for them. This is one of the toughest places to come and play, and I thought they held their own. Will (Sands), he started some games last year, but starting the season opener is a little different feeling. The rest of the guys, I know they’re only going to get better from here on out.”
As will the Crew, as players get more comfortable in Nancy’s preferred playing style. The season opener against a team that lost an MLS Cup Final in a penalty shootout was always going to be a hard start to 2023, and that proved true.
Now, the Black and Gold are hoping to bounce back Saturday night when they host D.C. United at Lower.com Field for a very, merry Crewsmas.
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