Columbus Crew SC is back on the road to face D.C. United after notching three points in an impressive 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution. The Black & Gold will head to RFK Stadium hoping to extend its current two-game win streak and keep their playoff hopes alive. The match will be broadcast on MyTV Columbus, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, BCSN2.
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“We know that a big part of soccer is the mental game and believing,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “When you get positive results it boosts all of that and the guys are very confident right now. You see the ball circulation is excellent and they’re playing with a lot of energy.”
Energy will definitely come into play as Crew SC faces a United team for the second time this season, who is currently sitting in the sixth and final postseason spot in the East.
United has an abundance of talent on the forefront particularly in striker Patrick Mullins, who has shown dominance most recently scoring a brace in D.C.’s impressive 4-1 victory over Orlando.
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“I think since he has been traded you can see he is playing with confidence and that’s a big part of what strikers do, but I really like his movement in the penalty box,” said Berhalter. “It’s real striker-style movement where it’s quick darting movements to get open and in the penalty box he’s been excellent. “
Preventing goal-scoring opportunities and sticking to the game plan will be huge in a Crew SC victory but ultimately; the ability to perform well after a quick turnaround while under pressure will be the main factor in keeping the Black & Gold’s playoff hopes alive, says midfielder Ethan Finlay.
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“Every game is going to matter for us,” said Finlay. “This is a playoff atmosphere and in the playoffs you have to deal with quick turnarounds especially in those early rounds so that’s how we are going to treat it. It’s not going to be easy.”
Playing in RFK Stadium will be a challenge for the Black & Gold, with D.C. United most recently defeating a tough Orlando team at home in front of a sellout crowd, but Finlay believes that his team has what it takes to get the job done.
“First it’s off a quick turnaround, second off all it’s an away game in a tough place to play, but there’s a lot of confidence in this group right now and the energy will come obviously with the understanding the we have to get a result,” Finlay said.
Midfielder Mohammed Saeid says that the pressure on United to perform well at home will be used to Crew SC’s advantage.
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“There is a lot of pressure on them," said Saeid. “They have home field advantage and we just have to try to go there and try to enjoy the game, try to play the way that we can and hopefully the results will go our way.”
Kickoff in RFK Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night on MyTV Columbus, Time Warner Cable SportsChannel, BCSN2, CD102.5 FM, La Mega 103.1 FM.
