Defense is Crew's stronghold
Columbus enters playoffs having posted seven regular season shutouts in 2009
Related
- The Edge: Columbus Crew vs. Real Salt Lake
- CrewVision: Preview RSL
Watch
- Complete MLS Cup Playoffs coverage
That's never been more evident than being blanked in the three of the past four games, including a scoreless streak of 234 minutes heading into Saturday's first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series at Real Salt Lake.
"We've been off, a little off," midfielder Danny O'Rourke. "We had a little funk like that at the beginning of the year not scoring goals but we have probably the most prominent attack in the league whoever's on the field, whether it's defenders on free kicks or attackers."
Reasons for the Crew's 3-4-1 record down the stretch start and end with the offense, because the defensive play has been even more stellar than last season when the Crew won the MLS Cup.
This year's club allowed 31 goals, five fewer than a year ago, and William Hesmer set a team mark for lowest goals-against average (0.95 in 19 games) for goalkeepers playing 10 or more games, bettering the 1.07 mark of current Chicago 'keeper Jon Busch in 2004. (Brad Friedel compiled a 0.78 GAA for nine matches in 1996).
"We're defending from top to bottom. That shows in the play of Will and the small amount of goals we're letting in," midfielder Brian Carroll said. "We need to tighten it up even more."
The Crew have allowed only seven goals in the last 11 matches despite missing 2008 MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall (knee) for most of the stretch as well as absences at some point of other backline starters Gino Padula, Frankie Hejduk and Eric Brunner.
Yet, the Crew have not allowed more than two goals in a match since a 4-1 loss at RSL in the third game of the season.
"It's not just the defense. It's the overall team, the way we get behind the ball and play collectively," O'Rourke said.
Although the Crew's seven shutouts were three fewer than last year, they had 16 matches when they yielded a single goal. If defense wins championships, the Crew like their chances.
"That's the key. I firmly believe in that and the team believes in that," Hesmer said. "There are going to be days when you're not scoring -- I think we had four games last year (in a row) when we didn't score. It just happened to come at this time of the season where we're not finding the net as easily.
"The guys don't lack for confidence. They believe in each other. At the same time it's good to know we have a good strong team defense that's always going to keep us in it."
Being taut defensively is going to be imperative in the first match. Real Salt Lake scored early and often in the first game in Rio Tinto Stadium on April 2. In an aggregate series, the Crew can't afford to fall too far behind before the second leg in Columbus on Nov. 5.
It won't be an easy task. RSL's 32 points (9-1-5) at home were the best in the league and was one more than the Crew (9-2-4) after losing their final two games in Crew Stadium following a 24-game unbeaten streak.
"They're a good team at home. They're capable of scoring a lot of goals," said Marshall, who is expected to play for the first time since Sept. 13. "The first game we need to limit their opportunities, not necessarily sit in, but we don't want to open ourselves up and have them do to us what they did to Colorado in their last game and have that one long ball where one of the fast guys runs onto it and suddenly runs the hole.
"We have to be smart and pick our opportunities and be dangerous on set pieces and hopefully come out of there with a result."
The Lakers outscored opponents 34-11 at their venue, leaving the Crew wondering what benefit it earned for winning the Supporters' Shield for having the most points in the league. Until the Shield winner can decide if it wants to host the first game, there apparently isn't one.
"What home-field advantage?" Hesmer said. "You work hard over a 30-game season to get the first seed then a team sneaks in with an eighth seed the last weekend and you're rewarded by playing the best team at home. In an even home-and-away series there's no such thing as home-field advantage in that.
"I don't care what they say about the second leg, 'Oh, you get the overtime period.' You could say they get the jump. They can set the standard at home first.
"That being said we're proud of what we did over a 30-game season. It is what it is in the format. We'll try to take care of business there."
The Crew went through a similar situation last season. They won the Supporters' Shield but trailed the semifinal opener at Kansas City until reserve Steven Lenhart scored in stoppage time for the critical equalizer.
In the return leg, the Crew won 2-0 then used their home support to defeat Chicago 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Championship.
"The playoff system doesn't favor the team that wins the Supporters' Shield because we play away and home. The second round, yes, it's an advantage because we play at home. That's what you play for," coach Robert Warzycha said. "Playing the game (at Real Salt Lake), what's the advantage?"
Many prognosticators agree, giving RSL the first game by a goal or two.
"We need to go in there the first 15 minutes and not let anything crazy happen," Carroll said. "We have to play smart and know like it was in Kansas City -- don't panic, play all the way to the end and play our style. If it has to be 1-1 or 0-0, that's not the end of the world."
The Crew would be happy coming home level in goals. RSL is 2-11-2 on the road where it's been outscored 24-9, including a 3-1 loss vs. the Crew on July 18.
"They're a really good team," O'Rourke said. "I'm surprised to see they're not as good on the road. We're going to have our hands full. If we played all year to get home field we'll take care of business but we need to go out there and get a favorable result."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com
