Following last week’s result, the main takeaway was clear: the Black & Gold can generate goal-scoring opportunities, but they need to finish them.
That set the stage for Saturday night, when, like last week, the Columbus Crew generated attacking chances once more. This time, though, they put the ball in the net.
The Crew moved to unbeaten in nine of their first 10 regular-season matches on Saturday night when they beat the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-1, at Lower.com Field. With the win, the side is now on pace to finish with 71 points. (The club record is 66, set last season.)
“We could have scored more goals, but we scored two goals so this is the difference,” Nancy said after the win. “We did a good game.”
Columbus struck first in the 28th minute via a clinical set-piece finish. Diego Rossi lofted a long-range free kick toward the back post, where Sean Zawadzki finished his run by sliding the ball home. The goal was Zawadzki’s first this season.
Josef Martínez scored the equalizer in the 40th minute, leveling the match before the break.
In the second half, Max Arfsten produced the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute, when he produced a thunderous strike to punish his former club.
Drafted by the Crew in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, Arfsten spent the previous season with the San Jose Earthquakes II in MLS NEXT Pro.
“I was extra motivated for the game to be honest, just because I used to be there, and you know it didn't go very well,” Arfsten said. “But everything happens for a reason and I'm very happy to be here now, instead.”
The win was a great early season test for Columbus, which has become accustomed to played against a low block. If space was an issue in previous matches, it was the opposite Saturday, when both teams had free range and played an open match. Naturally, this led to more opportunities – for each club – and an exciting match.
It should be noted that Dániel Gazdag, who played his first match at Lower.com Field since joining as a Designated Player earlier this month, fit in well alongside his teammates, especially in the sometimes frenetic match.
“In terms of connection with the other players and relationship, what I asked them for this game was not easy because we knew that [San Jose] would do a man to man, kind of,” Nancy said. “The idea is to have no real position but to run together. The other players are able to do it because they know that, but I'm happy for Dániel because he was able to connect really well also within the structure that we had.”
Now among the league leaders, it’s worth noting the Crew are still settling into the new campaign, while new players are adjusting. As mentioned, Gazdag is a recent arrival. Aliyu Ibrahim, who joined the club from Houston Dynamo FC last Tuesday, will make his debut soon.
This is a work in progress, and the Crew certainly progressed offensively compared to last week. Now, the focus is about building upon the win against the Earthquakes.
“We could have scored more goals. If we scored more goals, this is not the same battle, I would say,” Nancy said. “They stay on the game and they were aggressive, and Bruce [Arena] likes to put also offensive players so this is what he did. We found a way to have a good performance and to win the game.”
