Columbus Crew at Portland Timbers: 5 storylines
It’s been quite a week for the Crew, and there’s still a tough road match to play.
After dealing with an extra match suspension added to coach Wilfried Nancy’s punishment for a red card and then agreeing to terminate goalkeeper Eloy Room’s contract, the next challenge lies in the Pacific Northwest.
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Returning to Portland for the first time since 2018, the Crew hope to keep an eight-game unbeaten streak going at 10:30 p.m. Saturday without Nancy and star forward Cucho Hernandez — who is also suspended for getting two yellow cards last week in a contentious 1-1 draw with New York City FC.
Here are five Crew storylines going into the match:
Aidan Morris, Jacen Russell-Rowe available for Columbus Crew
After leaving to play for U.S. and Canadian national teams in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, midfielder Aidan Morris and forward Jacen Russell-Rowe returned to training this week and will be available against the Timbers.
That would be good news regardless of circumstances, but could be a big lift if they return to action while Nancy and Hernandez are out. Morris, a key midfielder, departed the U.S. national team July 2 for “personal reasons” not related to soccer and hasn’t played since. Russell-Rowe, used as a reserve in five straight games before leaving, helped Canada go 1-0-3 in a similar role at the Gold Cup.
Will Morris return and provide a spark in the midfield? Will Russell-Rowe get a chance to replace Hernandez up front? Both could play a role in the outcome of this matchup.
Columbus Crew to rally around Wilfried Nancy, Cucho Hernandez
After going a man down with Hernandez’s second yellow card against NYCFC, the Crew then lost Nancy after the coach’s uncharacteristic tirade following the non-call of a foul with Columbus trailing 1-0 late in the match.
They could have chalked up a looming defeat to bad officiating that wasn’t within their control and simply let the clock run out at Lower.com Field on a disappointing night. Instead, the Crew rallied together and began to carry play despite having one less man on the pitch.
Zawadzki’s tying goal during added time, off a heady feed from Christian Ramirez, sent the stadium into a roar and pumped even more juice into their own weary legs. They’re still missing Nancy and Hernandez this week and now there won’t be a frothing, gold-clad crowd spurring them onward.
The only difference is that both sides will have an even number of players when the ball is kicked. Nancy, who’ll be watching from the stands, gave the Crew a simple message in training this week.
“The team is doing well, so don’t change anything,” captain Darlington Nagbe said. “If anything, can we challenge ourselves and compete against ourselves? That’s been his message throughout the season, so nothing changes. Just continue to compete against ourselves and improve where we can improve. It doesn’t matter who’s out. Just stick to the task, focus and win.”
Columbus Crew goal belongs to Patrick Schulte
Does Patrick Schulte know how to clear out a Room or what?
The rookie goalkeeper is the biggest reason Eloy Room is preparing for a return to his former team in Europe rather than guarding the Crew’s goal. Room and the Crew mutually agreed to terminate the remainder of his MLS contract Thursday, which makes him a free agent and Schulte the official new backbone of the Crew’s defense.
After earning “Goalkeeper of the Year” honors last season for Crew 2 in the MLS Next Pro series, the 6-foot-5 Schulte has become a revelation at the MLS level for Columbus. He’s gaining confidence by the minute and played an instrumental role in stealing a point during the officiating clown show that led to the NYCFC debacle.
Now it’s time for his next challenge.
The Crew’s goal is now fully Schulte’s to patrol and there’s no longer an Eloy Room safety net around. That doesn’t appear to be a concern for him, Nancy or the club’s front office.
Saturday night’s match will be Schulte’s first test since Room’s departure, so it will be interesting to see if the talented rookie can prevent “Timber Joey” from slicing off a traditional log slab following a Timbers goal.
Columbus Crew captain Darlington Nagbe returns to Portland
The familiar faces have dwindled over the past six years, but the Portland Timbers still hold a special place in Nagbe’s heart after he helped them win the MLS Cup there in 2015.
The victory in that title game was over Columbus, of course, but Nagbe has since made it up to the Crew by helping them win the league’s 2020 championship. That was Nagbe’s first season in Columbus and this trip is his first trip back to Portland since.
It’s a business trip, but the visit will also rekindle fond memories.
“A little bit, yeah, because I was there a long time and (won) the Cup, but in this game, teams change a lot over time,” Nagbe said. “There’s only a few players left (from my time) … but it’s good to go back because I still have some friends there. I’m looking forward to seeing them.”
Columbus Crew seeks first win road win over Portland Timbers
Speaking of Portland and the Timbers’ mascot — an actual chainsaw wielding outdoorsman who goes by the name “Timber Joey” — the Crew hasn’t exactly enjoyed their trips to Providence Park.
They’ve never won a match there, going 0-3-2 in five tilts, and fell 3-2 to the Timbers in their last visit Sept. 19, 2018. Working against the Crew on this visit are the suspensions for Nancy and Hernandez, but positives include Portland’s season-long struggle. Portland is 1-4-5 in its past 10 MLS matches, including four 0-0 draws, and the Timbers have been held to five goals during that span.
That’s a franchise low for a 10-game span during the club’s MLS history.
The Crew is also 3-0-0 against Western Conference teams this season, but all of those matches were at Lower.com Field. Nagbe said he'll shared advice with teammates about playing in Portland.
“Just don’t let the atmosphere impact you,” he said. “Go out there and continue to do what we’re doing, focus on ourselves, play the game the way we know how to play it and the rest will take care of itself.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 5 Columbus Crew storylines against Portland Timbers
