Welcome to the Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from a previous Columbus Crew match. For the second match of the 2024 MLS season, we take a look at Cucho Hernandez’s 59th-minute goal in Minnesota that gave the Crew a 1-0 lead as part of their 1-1 draw on the road.
Here is a look at Hernandez’s fantastic strike.
Columbus hit the road for the first time in the 2024 season to face off against Minnesota United. The Loons were without most of their attacking front while the Black & Gold started a full-strength lineup minus Mohamed Farsi. In the first half, Minnesota pressed high and put frequent pressure on the Crew. After a nervy first 15 minutes, Columbus coped with the pressure and began to exert their will on the match. Minnesota United was able to hold serve and the game entered halftime scoreless.
Hernandez’s goal, his second in as many games, begins with a Black & Gold freekick. Captain Darlington Nagbe plays a quick pass back to Rudy Camacho.
Camacho lifts his head up and spots Hernandez. The French center-back hits a long pass right to the feet of the striker.
Hernandez quickly turns and has three immediate options a quick pass forward to Christian Ramirez, carry the ball forward, or a long ball out in front of Max Arfsten.
Seeing space in front of Arfsten, Hernandez hits a long pass out in front of the speedy wing-back.
Arfsten easily outpaces Joseph Rosales and sets the Crew on the attack. Ramirez and Diego Rossi make attacking runs up the middle while Yaw Yeboah trails on the far left side.
The wing-back collects the ball and cuts toward the 18 yard-box as Rosales looks to get between Arfsten and the goal.
Arfsten reaches the corner of the goal-box where he has four options a long ball toward Yeboah, a diagonal pass to Ramirez, a quick touch to Rossi, or attempt to beat Rosales off the dribble.
Arftsten switches the point of attack by playing a looping ball out into the path of Yeboah.
Yeboah prepares to receive Arfsten’s path while Hernandez makes a late run toward the top of the 18 yard-box.
The left wing-back has to reach up to collect the ball, leaving him with just three options, use a tough first-touch to redirect the ball toward the end-line, fire a first-touch pass into the middle of the box, or play a quick drop back to Hernandez.
Yeboah can collect the ball and use his first-touch to play a pass back to Hernandez.
Hernandez takes a quick touch and immediately has four options with his second touch, a square pass back to Yeboah, a shot on goal, a looping ball toward Rossi and Ramirez, or a diagonal ball toward Arfsten.
The striker sees a shooting opportunity and takes it.
Dayne St. Clair dives to his right but is unable to get a touch on the ball as it soars past him . . .
. . . into the back of the net!
Findings:
- Once again the Black & Gold use switches of the point of attack to unsettle the defense. First is Camacho and Hernandez to Arfsten, next is Arfsten playing a ball across the box to Yeboah, and finally Yeboah finds Hernandez in the middle of the goalbox.
- Arfsten is still learning his role stepping in for Farsi but this was exactly what the Crew want to see from his position. He used his pace to get behind the Loon defense and played a very good pass across the box to Yeboah.
- The Ghanian did well to redirect a tough pass in front of Hernandez.
- Cucho does what he does, making a difficult shot look easy and scoring yet another goal.
MASSIVE REPORT 