1ST HALF
Both sides started off in a test type mode trying to figure out the other side. Sporting proved to be the more evolved team and figured it out first.
After a quarter hour of KC went up of a Graham Zusi cross to Ike Opera right in the six yard box. Agustin Viana was laying on the ground with an apparent injury but camera angles would later show him peaking up to check the play.
The quality of Zusi's cross ultimately made Viana's decision to stay down look bad. Bad play by Viana (he popped up after the goal) but a goal was deserved as KC found plenty of space behind Trapp and Tchani all half.
2ND HALF
Coming out of the locker room Sporting dropped eight back and stayed disciplined. It was very similar to how Seattle beat the Crew with 10 men about a month ago.
Because of their style, Columbus has no answer for team with a defensive posture. Dominic Oduro had no space to break free and Federico Higuain was jammed in the middle.
The Crew ended up only getting two total shots off from open play all game. The other 10 shots came from set pieces.
The game ended with an exhausted and frustrated Crew side.
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GAME OVER, THOUGHTS
• Sporting played the Crew smartly as Columbus basically has only two cards to play in attack:
1. Through balls that get behind the defense (Oduro's speed)
2. Set Pieces
• KC took care of both of those things. They shut the Crew down almost in total.
• Tchani and Trapp were playing on top of each other all night. This comes after three games were they kept good spacing in holding roles. This was more do to the way KC played and them not knowing how to work around it.
• Nobody on the Crew played terrible, KC just are better at more things.
• Federico Higuain seemed to pick up an injury early on but stayed in the game and slowed him.
• To many it might appear simple what KC did to the Crew but it always amazes me how many teams do not prepare for each opponent. KC prepared and executed. It should be appreciated.
• Columbus only has a week off than two matches against NE to finish up the schedule.
The offseason has basically started for this team.
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