Preview: Crew SC looks to end slide Saturday vs. Revolution
Photo credit: Hayden Schiff
It’s not often that a team finds itself above the line seven games into a season while also riding a three-match losing streak. Thus is the case for Columbus Crew SC, who, thanks to a stellar start, currently sits in fourth place with 10 points in the MLS Eastern Conference table despite its recent setbacks.
Crew SC will look to right the ship against the New England Revolution, another team sitting on 10 points, Saturday evening at MAPFRE Stadium. Both squads will be close to full strength for the match, with neither dealing with any international absences or suspensions.
The hosts won’t have defender Gaston Sauro available, who’s yet to appear this season due to a bum left knee. Ditto for midfielder Mike Grella, who’s dealing with a knock of his own to the same knee. Midfielders Luis Argudo and Eduardo Sosa are also out injured.
A pair of midfielders, Kelyn Rowe and Isaac Angking, won’t be able to suit up for the Revolution. Beyond those handful of injuries, both coaches will have a solid group of players available for selection — well, sort of.
For the Revs, Lee Nguyen is “available,” but is still missing in action following a contentious offseason in New Enlgand. Nguyen, who’s under contract through 2018, recently spoke publicly on the situation for the first time in an interview with MLSsoccer.com’s Jonathan Sigal. Nguyen and head coach Brad Friedel have apparently remained cordial, but the latter’s decision to perpetually freeze the former out of the team’s game day 18 seems to indicate the relationship is permanently fractured beyond repair.
Of course, Columbus hasn’t been without its own fair share of drama lately. Owner Anthony Precourt’s Precourt Sports Ventures and MLS together filed a joint motion Thursday seeking to have a lawsuit against them thrown out. The suit hopes to prevent Crew SC from moving the franchise to Austin on the grounds that such a move violates a local statute known as the “Art Modell Law.”
Photo credit: Thomas Lillis IV
WHAT TO LOOK FOR SATURDAY
Crew SC head coach Gregg Berhalter mixes things up from time to time, but generally favors his trusty 4-2-3-1 with Federico Higuain pulling the strings in the No. 10 role and U.S. international Gyasi Zardes operating in front of him as the No. 9. Friedel will likely roll out a 4-1-4-1 featuring Diego Fagundez as the lead playmaker centrally. Sans Nguyen, Fagundez has filled in admirably in that role.
In what promises to be a crowded center of the pitch, whichever side is better able to negotiate the midfield traffic and utilize the space up the flanks might leave MAPFRE Stadium with three points Saturday.
Crew SC will have to put its off-field distractions aside Saturday if it hopes to end its three-game slide and earn a result. The Nguyen-less Revs, meanwhile, will try to continue to surprise their doubters.
Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KJboxing.
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