Savor The Crew - 2020 MLS Cup Champions
Saturday, December 12, 2020, 12 years after they lifted their first MLS Cup trophy, the Columbus Crew lifted the trophy once again. 3 years earlier I was in attendance for the Eastern Conference final v. Toronto FC amidst the #SaveTheCrew movement. On Saturday, I sat pitch side in the last ever playoff game in the first soccer specific stadium in the MLS. The Columbus Crew easily defeated the Seattle Sounders 3-0 in front of 1500 fans.
The Crew have not only been saved, but the Columbus Crew are now MLS Cup Champions.
Leading up to this match, the Columbus Crew hadn’t given up a goal in 210 minutes, 45 minutes less than what MNUFC recorded before giving up 3 in 18 minutes to the Seattle Sounders. The home team Columbus Crew entered the final as slight favorites although they were without 2 of their most influential players, Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos due to them testing positive for Covid-19. The Crew may have been favorites, but the sounders were playing in their 4th final in 5 years, seeking their 3rd championship in that time. Caleb Porter would rely on his youth, depth, and his team trusting the process in this one.
U-20 USMNT player and former guest on the MLS Gone Wild podcast, Aidan Morris, got the start in place of Darlington Nagbe and Derrick Etienne Jr. started in place of Pedro Santos. While both Nagbe and Santos are irreplaceable, Morris and Etienne Jr. exceeded expectations. Aidan Morris was credited with a hockey assist in the 25th minute, which not only made him the
youngest player to record an assist in an MLS Cup, but the youngest player to ever start in the MLS Cup. Morris was tasked with tracking one of the leagues best 10’s, Nico Lodeiro, through the midfield and he did just that. In Morris’ 3rd start of the season, Aidan recorded 35 passes, completing 77% of them, 8 ball recoveries, and a game high 9 attempted tackles. In our podcast with Aidan, he said “I’m learning from guys all the time in training. Being a young kid, I’m trying to be a sponge and take it all in. You’ve got guys like Darlington who is probably the best midfielder in the league right now who I’m just constantly learning from.” 2020 has been all about depth and next man up. This quote exemplifies that to a tee.
The Crew usually line up in a 4-5-1 or some variation of that formation. In Caleb Porter’s
system, the Crew’s wingers have 2 different roles. Our right winger is usually tasked with beating players with speed and getting end line to provide service. Pedro Santos, who, when healthy, starts as our left winger is given the freedom to roam and combine with our other playmakers. With Pedro Santos unavailable, Caleb Porter had a decision to make. Start Derrick Etienne Jr. or Youness Mohktar? Etienne has played the majority of his minutes on the right side this year playing in the role of the burner who is going to beat players with speed and get end line. Mohktar’s playing style is similar to Santos in that he tends to roam inside and combine, but he hasn’t made an appearance since 11/08. Caleb Porters decision to start Derrick Etienne proved to be the right one as he scored in the 31st minute with a finessed, curling strike to the back stick to extend the Crew’s first half lead to two.
Etienne’s goal was assisted by MLS Cup MVP and $8 million man, Lucas Zelarayan. In addition to his assist, Lucas etched his name in history as the 3rd player to ever score a brace in an MLS Cup Final joining Landon Donovan and Alecko Eskandarian. Zelarayan also joined fellow Argentinian and former MLS Cup MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto as the only player to be involved in 3 goals in an MLS Cup Final. Zelarayan, in his first season with the Crew, has entered legendary status and will be expected to carry this form into 2021.
The Crew’s stalwart defense recorded 12 shutouts this season, more than any other team in the league. 3 of those shutouts came in their last 3 playoff matches against Nashville, New England, and Seattle. The Crew didn’t concede a goal in 300 playoff minutes. With their shutout victory over the Sounders, the Sounders have yet to score an away goal in an MLS Cup Final.
The Columbus Crew finished the season with a home record of 13-1. Mapfre was a fortress this year and was a fortress for the USMNT over the years with a number of 2-0 wins over Mexico. Mapfre has also been home to 3 MLS Cups, 2 MLS All Star Games, 2 US Open Cup Finals, 7 USWNT matches, 10 USMNT World Cup Qualifiers, and some of my favorite memories growing up as a kid in Columbus. I have stood on the pitch to welcome the players. I have stood at the front of Nordecke. I played a high school match in that stadium. I signed my commitment letter to play collegiate soccer there. I skipped homecoming, not because I didn’t have a date, but because David Beckham and the LA Galaxy were in town. I have traded scarves with away fans. I watched the USMNT defeat Algeria at a watch party at the stadium. I have now been to 2 MLS Cup Finals at Mapfre and am so blessed to have now seen my boyhood club win an MLS Cup in
person. I have cheered. I have cried. I have loved every moment I have ever spent at Mapfre Stadium. Here’s to new beginnings at our new downtown stadium coming in the summer of 2021.
