What seemed to be a fantastic match for Columbus Crew SCyet again turned out to be a nightmare. After taking a 2-0 lead before halftime, the gas ran out and the lead was soon gone. Columbus leave their three-game home stretch with just three points.

Columbus rampant in the early going 

The scoring would start in the 20th minute, when Tony Tchani received a through ball from Justin Meram to tip-toe around the Orlando City SC defense and slotted the ball past keeper Joe Bendik. 

Tony Tchani of Columbus Crew SC celebrates his goal with teammates against Orlando City SC. | Photo: Joe Maiorana - USA Today Sports
Tony Tchani celebrates his goal with teammates against Orlando City SC. (Photo: Joe Maiorana - USA Today Sports)

A hydration break would somewhat help the home team, as they continued to pile pressure on the opposition. 

As the end of the half neared, forward Ola Kamara was played in on goal. Bendik rushed out of his net, but couldn’t collect the ball as he tripped Kamara in the box, conceding a penalty kick for his side. Bendik received a yellow card for his actions. But that came with a little extra. Orlando City midfielder Kevin Molino was also given a yellow card, for encroachment and removing the ball from the penalty spot. Once all was settled, Kamara calmly placed the ball past an outstretched Bendik, to double the Crew SC lead to 2-0.

Columbus would approach the second half, looking to seal the deal and grab three points. Orlando had other plans.

Crew SC lose control 

A corner kick in the 65th minute of play bounced around a sea of bodies and landed at the foot of Molino, who calmly poked the loose ball past keeper Steve Clark, pulling the Lions within one.

The equalizer came just minutes later, as forward Cyle Larin saw a wonderful cross from Molino, and rose over two defenders, to head home the ball to tie the game at 2-2. Once again, a lead lost by Crew SC.

Both teams would have a shootout in the final minutes of the match, including stoppage time. Both Bendik and Clark, came up with huge saves to prevent either team from taking the lead. The final whistle blew, and sure enough, Crew SC cannot find that fourth win.

After the game, interim head coach Bobby Murphy for Orlando City SC spoke to the media and gave his thoughts on the game.

"I think we knew it going into it, Columbus was good at what they do. They’re good at possession and stretching you in what they do," said Murphy. "I just told the guys I’ll take responsibility for the first half because I, maybe think, I gave Columbus too much credit, or our guys not enough credit and we sat off a little bit and the mindset was one of absorbing but that wasn’t necessarily intended, but that’s what came across and when you let teams as dangerous as [Columbus] with the players they have, have the ball as much as they do, they’re going to create opportunities. The penalty we can be a little upset with because we gave the ball away in a bad spot, at a bad time in the game, but I don’t think we had any real complaints going into halftime. We made some tactical adjustments, and tried to play higher up the field and I challenged them. I asked if anybody wanted to quit, and to let me know, they can stay in here. Not one of them did. They all followed me out and I think they’re performance showed that in the second half."

An upbeat Murphy seemed pleased with the result, before handing off the team to newly minted head coach Jason Kreis.

Winning isn't an accident

On the other hand, head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter, seemed displeased and highly annoyed with the team’s lackluster performance in the second half. Berhalter called out the defending of his team, saying, "We weren’t shifting quick enough, we allowed them space, we didn’t put enough pressure on the ball, and it hurt us."

Orlando City play home in their next match against the New England Revolution. Crew SC go back on the road to face Toronto FC in their third and final match for the Trillium Cup.

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About the author
Tyler Fisher
Contributor to Last Word On Sports. Main editor for USMNT and MLS content on VAVEL USA.