Crew Rd 25, Pinned Down and Beaten

The Columbus Crew could do nothing to stop Real Salt Lake last night.

1ST HALF
Crew Head Coach Robert Warzycha came out in what was his primary and preferred dual defensive mid lineup last night in clear attempt to get at least a point. Danny O'Rourke and Wil Trapp will given the unfortunate task there.

On the RSL side we save Jason Kreis come out with is somewhat familiar diamond midfield with Kyle Beckerman at CDM and both Devon Sandoval and Olmes Garcia up top.

With two CDM's clogging the middle RSL found it very easy to get wide and retain possession all through the first half. RSL was getting corner after corner and free kicks around the box with ease.

The only thing the Crew were successful at was keeping RSL out of the goal. That is until the first one came right at the end of the first half.

Chad Marshall gave up a free kick via handball right outside the 18 yd box. Kyle Beckerman took the shot that deflected off Wil Trapp (lined up in the wall) then took a second deflection off Javier Morales for a goal. Crew defender Chad Barson was lined up behind Morales.

2ND HALF
No changes from the Crew meant the onslaught continued. The inevitable goal that fans on both sides saw coming from miles away happened off an easy cross and goal right in front of GK Matt Lampson.

Even up by two, RSL kept pressing Columbus. Even going as far as making a offensive minded substitution around the hour mark by bring in Robbie Findley (six goals on the year).

Warzycha appeared to be caught off guard and completely over reacted by bringing on not one but TWO fresh holding midfielders in his son Konrad Warzycha and a out of form Tony Tchani.

The changes changed nothing. RSL ended up scoring two more goals from the run of play in the last 10 minutes.

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GAME THOUGHTS

Yesterday, in my game preview, I said the Crew would go back into their shell. They did. I also said that doing so would jam up Federico Higuain. It did.

Ever been in a fight and been pinned down or held by another as punches came your way? If I can predict these simple minded tactics then sure as hell Jason Kreis can - and he did. What RSL did was the equivalent of sitting of the chest of the Crew, knees on their shoulders pinning the arms down and pounding the ever-living daylights out of them.

Shortly before the game started the Crew Digital Content Producer tweeted out the following: "FOUR... Count them, FOUR Homegrowns in the XI for #Crew96 tonight: Lampson, Barson, Trapp, Speas."

In a game like this, where you are playing one of the three best teams in the league - at their place - when they are at full strength... you take your warriors. Your fighters. Not four inexperienced local kids with little to no league experience on the road.

The Crew have now lost six straight on the road. Goes without saying, but worst in the league.

By the end of the match you saw some (the fighters) on the Crew visibly frustrated. Dominic Oduro on a late tackle, Josh Williams should barging a player 10 feet out of bounds and Higuain just playing coming unglued (and picking up two more yellow cards, suspending him for at least one game).

Inexperienced players making up half the starting lineup and employing a tactic that has not worked all year.

I don't get it. I really don't.