'We know who they are': What to expect as Columbus Crew take on New York Red Bulls
When the Crew faced the New York Red Bulls last March in an early MLS regular-season match, there was still a bit of a question mark in terms of how Columbus' goalkeeper rotation would play out.
After then-rookie Patrick Schulte got the start for the Crew in their season opener against the Philadelphia Union, veteran Eloy Room got the nod for the following three matches, including on the road against New York. Though Schulte was not even a bench option in the match, Columbus' 2-1 loss at Red Bull Arena was a turning point in his season, as it would be Room's last game with the club.
From then on, Schulte has been the Crew's starter.
Five games into 2024, Schulte is the only Columbus player who has been on the field every minute, whether it be MLS regular-season or CONCACAF Champions Cup action. With the upcoming match against the Red Bulls being the end of a 15-day stretch in which the Crew had five games, there was a discussion between coach Wilfried Nancy and goalkeeper coach Phil Boerger about why playing Schulte all those minutes was the right decision.
"We want to challenge him," Nancy said. "We thought about maybe rotation between the Champions (Cup) and MLS regular season, but we thought that it was good for him to play all the games for a moment. He has to be good, obviously, but to help him to deal with this pressure."
Across the more than 450 minutes Schulte has been in goal this season, he has given up three goals, one less than he gave up in his debut against the Union last year.
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While it has not been confirmed that Schulte's playing streak will continue against New York on Saturday night, it will likely come to an end at some point this month, as both he and midfielder Aidan Morris have been called up to the U.S. men's national U-23 team. As preparation for the 2024 Olympics, the team will be facing Guinea on March 22 and France on March 25 in friendlies.
The Crew have veteran Evan Bush and recent offseason free-agent signing Nicholas Hagen as backup goalkeeper options. However, Hagen has also been called up for international duty with the Guatemalan national team, which will be competing in friendlies during that same week.
'It's always high intensity'
Playing his whole professional career with Columbus, Morris is no stranger to the Red Bulls, one of their Eastern Conference rivals.
"When you look at Red Bulls and how they play, it's always high intensity, pressing for 90-plus minutes," Morris said. "We know who they are and how they like to play, but we've got to be able to match it. So, kind of bring the same amount of intensity but also composure to it."
In the Crew's second-leg matchup against the Houston Dynamo in the Champions Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday, one of the elements Nancy was impressed with was his team's ability to slow the game when needed.
Going against a Red Bulls team that is known for a strong press, middle center back Rudy Camacho wants the Crew to bring that same mindset from the Houston game into Saturday.
"I think sometimes we want to attack, attack, attack," Camacho said. "But we have to also manage the games."
The ability to manage games has become increasingly more important in the final moments of play, as in the last four of Columbus' previous matchups the match-deciding goals have come in the closing minutes of either regulation or stoppage time. Two of those goals have been in favor of the Crew, and two have gone their opponents' way.
"It's just concentration, just staying consistent to what we do best and making sure that lasts 90 minutes plus," Morris said. "Still something we've got to work on. We struggled with it last year, as well. But I think, look at this last game, it was 1-1 we obviously gave up the handball at the end, that was unfortunate. But I think after the four minutes of stoppage time, we killed it. ... So, I think when you look at that, that's progress."
'We need to take the time with him'
After scoring what would be a decisive goal in the first leg of the Crew's series against Houston in Champions Cup play, forward Alex Matan has been sidelined since with a thigh injury. He once is again ruled out for the upcoming matchup, and Nancy said there is no set timeline for his return, though the physical injury isn't as bad as they originally thought.
"Sometimes injury can come with physical element, but also there is a lot of times, connection with the mental part," Nancy said. "For Alex, this is both. So, this is why we decided ... this is better for him to be on the side, and we need to take the time with him."
The Crew and Red Bulls kick off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs New York Red Bulls, what to expect in MLS matchup
