Philadelphia Union gives Columbus Crew preview of MLS Cup playoffs 'margin of error'
Wilfried Nancy could not shake the Philadelphia Union’s only goal against the Crew on Saturday.
It’s unacceptable, he said. He even described it as "uncoachable," watching as Kai Wagner routinely hit a corner kick cross off the head of Nathan Harriel — one of three Union players gathered in the six-yard scoring box that did not include one Crew player — for a seemingly uncontested score.
Yes, Nancy knew the challenge the Union brought to Columbus during their 1-1 tie. He knew what the Crew did, allowing only two shots on goal defensively and showing dramatic improvement compared to its season opener against the Union in February.
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But Nancy also knows what could have been.
He sees the set piece as the margin between a three-point jump in the Eastern Conference and one point, falling to fifth place, with five points separating the second and sixth seeds.
“I'm happy because it was a good game,” Nancy said. “But at the same time, I have also frustration because it could have been better. Against Philly, this is often the same feeling where I don't know where to dance, you know?”
For the Crew, these stakes are normal. It’s normal to think ahead and prepare for the team’s upcoming postseason run. Through this last stretch of regular season games ahead of the MLS Cup playoffs, this “margin” has become Nancy’s calling card: honing in and focusing on seemingly minute details that have the power to end a season.
Goalie Patrick Schulte said the set-piece problems are “aggravating.”
Set pieces proved to be the difference against Orlando City SC, as Ramiro Enrique took advantage of the Crew’s defensive lapse and connected on the game-tying and game-winning goals off free kicks.
Wagner and Harriel saw the same opportunity that Schulte “can win or lose you games.”
“I’d rather have it happen now than in playoffs,” Schulte said.
While Christian Ramirez views the set pieces as “crucial” for the Crew’s success moving forward, he also felt one missed call proved to be a margin for a potential home victory.
Late in the second half, Ramirez had a shot saved in the center of the scoring box after he felt he was being pulled down by a Philadelphia defender.
Sometimes, Ramirez said, those margins can be out of the players’ control.
“Set pieces and those calls start to be the margin of error that can tilt games this late in the season and into playoffs,” Ramirez said. “Those are the fine margins sometimes, and you have to live with it. Sometimes they’ll go our way, and sometimes they won’t.”
Ramirez said games like Saturday's are “great learning experiences” ahead of the playoffs, facing “do-or-die moments."
“I think we got a little taste of it,” Ramirez said. “I think the fans got a little taste of it. You saw how on edge they were and they felt that this potentially, hopefully, could be a matchup later on.”
Nancy thought the Crew performed well. He could see the process and growth.
Heading into the Crew’s road match against the New England Revolution Wednesday, Nancy is happy, except for one thing.
“I’m happy except the corner,” Nancy said.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Philadelphia Union gives Columbus Crew MLS Cup playoffs preview
