Crew tactical review: Columbus picks up their second straight road win in Chicago

The Columbus Crew collected its second straight road win on Saturday, besting the Chicago Fire 3-1. Columbus opened the scoring courtesy of Diego Rossi in the 30th minute before doubling their lead in the second half through Christian Ramirez. A late scramble in the box gifted Chicago a goal, but Jacen Russell-Rowe would restore the Black & Gold’s two-goal lead just three minutes later. This … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus picks up their second straight road win in Chicago

Crew tactical review: Columbus adapts to grab three points in Montreal

The Columbus Crew got back to its winning ways on Wednesday, heading North to beat CF Montreal. The game started well for Columbus, opening the scoring courtesy of Max Arfsten hanging out on the back post and putting in a rebound that had come off the keeper. The Black & Gold would seemingly double their lead through a thunderous strike from Christian Ramirez, but the … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus adapts to grab three points in Montreal

Crew tactical review: Hell becomes very real for Columbus

The Columbus Crew continued its poor stretch of form in MLS play, this time falling to rivals FC Cincinnati 2-1 on Saturday evening. This is the first loss for Columbus at home against their noisy neighbors, in what was arguably their worst performance of this young season. The Black & Gold battled back and forth with Cincinnati until Kevin Kelsy broke the deadlock in the … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Hell becomes very real for Columbus

Predicted XI: Hell is Real

The Columbus Crew host their intrastate rivals FC Cincinnati for the first meeting of the Hell is Real rivalry. Last season the Crew won two of the three matchups including a thrilling come-from-behind match in the Eastern Conference Final that punched the Black & Gold’s ticket to MLS Cup. Bragging rights are up for grabs this weekend in Columbus where the Black & Gold would … Continue reading Predicted XI: Hell is Real

Crew tactical review: Columbus conquers Monterrey and moves on to the CCL final

The Columbus Crew punched their ticket to the CONCACAF Champions Cup Final on Wednesday, besting Monterrey 3-1 on the night and 5-2 on aggregate. The game started off rough for Columbus, conceding in the first ten minutes on a Yevhen Cheberko own goal. From there, it was an uphill battle to get back on the right side of the away-goals tiebreaker. The Black & Gold … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus conquers Monterrey and moves on to the CCL final

Crew tactical review: A chess match with an old friend yields a point for Columbus

The Columbus Crew returned from CONCACAF Champions Cup play to tie again in MLS competition, this time against CF Montreal. This matchup was anticipated by Crew fans due to the return of Montreal’s new coach Laurent Courtois to Columbus. The former Crew 2 coach got the job up in Canada after two successful seasons at the helm of the Capys. The first half of this … Continue reading Crew tactical review: A chess match with an old friend yields a point for Columbus

Crew tactical review: Columbus gets a massive victory against Monterrey

The Columbus Crew emerged victorious on Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead on aggregate down to Mexico against Monterrey. Columbus struck first against the Rayados courtesy of Cucho Hernandez in the first half. Monterrey had its chances, but so did the Black & Gold. It was the Mexican club that would get on the scoreboard next, evening the tie on goals but going up on … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus gets a massive victory against Monterrey

Crew tactical review: Columbus fights back to add a point at home

The Columbus Crew finished with yet another draw on Saturday, this time against the Portland Timbers. Portland struck first early in the match on a slow rolling shot that snuck its way past Patrick Schulte. The Black & Gold evened the game courtesy of a Cucho Hernandez shot that found the bottom corner in the second half. The Timbers equalized a mere six minutes later, … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus fights back to add a point at home

Crew tactical review: Columbus’ backup brigade earns a point on the road

The Columbus Crew returned to MLS play on Saturday evening, taking on Real Salt Lake away from home. The Black & Gold’s lineup was heavily rotated, featuring only three regular starters such as Aidan Morris, Rudy Camacho, and Malte Amundsen. Columbus still played its brand of soccer but had to rely more on their defense against an RSL squad that sent out their first team. … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus’ backup brigade earns a point on the road

Crew tactical review: Columbus pulls it out down in Mexico

The Columbus Crew advanced in dramatic fashion in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, besting Tigres on penalties. The game got off to a disastrous start for the Black & Gold, with a failed pull-back by Patrick Schulte resulting in an easy opener for the hosts. From there, Columbus had to scrap and claw to generate scoring chances. Ultimately, the Crew found their goal in the second … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus pulls it out down in Mexico

Predicted XI: Tigres UANL

The Columbus Crew host Tigres UANL for the first leg of the quarterfinals in the Concacaf Champions Cup, but it does not seem like good tidings for the home side. Injury concerns, while mostly minor, have piled up to make this match more difficult as well as star player and forward Cucho Hernandez potentially not seeing the field due to team policy.  Head coach Wilfried … Continue reading Predicted XI: Tigres UANL

What Crew fans need to know about CONCACAF Champions Cup opponent Tigres

Tigres UANL is a team the Columbus Crew will need to respect. The defending MLS champions will face the Liga MX side in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday as the Black & Gold look for a spot in the semifinals for the first time ever. It won’t be an easy task for Columbus. Tigres is a tough and respectable … Continue reading What Crew fans need to know about CONCACAF Champions Cup opponent Tigres

Crew tactical review: Columbus salvages a point in Nashville

The Columbus Crew traveled south to take on Nashville SC a week after suffering its first loss of the season against Charlotte FC. Sean Zawadzki opened the scoring for the Black & Gold in the first half with a thundering header off a corner. Nashville struck back, scoring twice in first half stoppage time to grab the lead heading into the intermission. Early in the … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus salvages a point in Nashville

Crew tactical review: Columbus drops first game of the season in Charlotte

The Columbus Crew dropped its first game of the season in Charlotte FC 2-0 on Saturday night.  Plagued by early injuries and suspect refereeing decisions, the Black & Gold held on to a 0-0 score line until Charlotte broke through in the 83rd minute. The hosts did not let up, doubling their advantage a mere five minutes later to send the Crew home with no … Continue reading Crew tactical review: Columbus drops first game of the season in Charlotte