It is said that the 2-0 lead is one of the most precarious in the sport of soccer. Whether it invokes a false sense of security on the part of the team in front or galvanizes their opponents who’ve fallen behind, there have been many times when that two-goal cushion ends up feeling like an uncomfortable interrogation chair by match’s end. An almost certain three-point result suddenly morphs into a disappointing draw or worse when the referee blows the final whistle.
Such sentiments were on full display in mid-October 2014 at PPL Park in Chester, PA. With Columbus Crew SC set to visit the venue for the first time since that fateful night this coming Wednesday, it’s only fitting to revisit what transpired. This rings especially true considering the ultimate outcome in terms of what was hinted at above and the seemingly different trajectories of both clubs’ long-term form afterwards.
October 11, 2014: An Epic Crew SC Comeback in Philadelphia
Both the home standing Union and Columbus Crew SC were in the hunt for one of the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with only a few games remaining in the season. The visitors had positioned themselves much more favorably in the weeks leading up to this game, the first of two tussles in three weeks between Columbus and Philly to close out the year.
Much has already been made of Crew SC’s hot run of form towards the tail end of 2014. Only eventual MLS Cup finalists New England Revolution obtained more points in the final two months of the season. Those two would face off the week before at Gillette Stadium with the Revs winning 2-1. Having gone the previous month undefeated, the Black and Gold’s October campaign did not get off to the best of starts in Foxborough. The club found itself in the fifth and final playoff spot in the East facing another looming road test against a Philly side still clinging to their own postseason aspirations a mere four points behind with three matches left.
The first half would finish scoreless but the bulk of the action would take place near Columbus’ goal. Philly enjoyed a 5-1 advantage in chances created within their opponent’s 18-yard box and Crew SC were forced to clear the ball much more frequently than the home side as the following Opta chalkboard graphic shows. By my count, the Union (shown in the white triangles) were forced to make only four clearances out of their own 18 compared to Crew SC’s 12.
And let’s not forget that the Union had a huge opportunity to break the scoreless deadlock in the 23rd minute. A cross sent in from the right came across Crew SC’s six-yard box and both Vincent Noguiera and Conor Casey both had a shot to put it past goalkeeper Steve Clark. In the end, the ball would bounce harmlessly through with neither being able to connect.
Union Strike First…Then Get Another
The complexion of this game would ultimately be determined by a roughly 15 minute stretch that began almost immediately after the midway point of the second half. With Philadelphia continuing to put pressure on the Crew SC center backs through open play crosses from both flanks, they would eventually get their breakthrough.
Left back Fabinho would make an overlapping run down the left side and fed in a cross that went slightly past the Union players trying to get on it in the middle of the box. Hanging out in perfect position to receive it, though, was midfielder Amobi Okugo who was able to head it down and away from the Crew SC defenders. 58th minute substitute Danny Cruz pounced and gave Philly the lead which in many ways seemed to be only a matter of time given the run of play.
Six minutes later, a scrambling Black and Gold side was pressing in pursuit of an equalizer when an Okugo clearance caught the back line completely out of position. Andrew Wenger would win an aerial ball against center back Michael Parkhurst that would come right in front of Nogueira on a breakaway. Looking to erase the memories of that earlier miss, it was essentially a one on goalie situation. Noguiera fired it by Clark who may have gotten a finger on it, but it didn’t matter. The ball would trickle towards the goal line, glance off the post, and get finished by Wenger who made the most of a far post run.
It looked like an unassailable lead with less than 15 minutes to go in the game.
The Columbus Crew SC Fightback Begins
But that good old 2-0 lead can be a fickle beast, especially late in the season when the stakes get raised. Three minutes after Wenger scored what appeared to be an insurance goal, the visitors would halve the lead. Despite the urgency of the situation, Crew SC patiently played their down-the-wings distribution game and it would pay off. Defensive midfielder Tony Tchani would send a through ball to right back Hector Jimenez, who squared it off of one touch into the box for Ethan Finlay. The left mid would blast it over Union goalie Zac MacMath to make it 2-1.
Almost immediately after Finlay picked it out of the net and ran it back to the center spot for the quick restart, the Black and Gold would win possession and get another buildup down the right flank. After the referee played advantage on a clear foul committed by the Union, suddenly Justin Meram found the ball at his feet. Despite having the option of passing to a few players making uncontested runs on the opposite end of the field, he decided to take it towards goal himself. In a Messi-esque display of individual brilliance, Meram slalomed in between two defenders, hit the ball with the outside instep of his right foot and buried it past MacMath for the equalizer.
You may have thought Crew SC would have been satisfied to escape with a valuable road point given the circumstances. It wasn’t to be the case. A mere four minutes after their comeback attempt began with Finlay’s single touch finish off a square ball from the right, the emphatic coup de gras would come off a similar play, only this time from the opposite end of the pitch.
Whereas on the initial goal that spearheaded the comeback it was Tchani providing the through ball, this time he was that fulcrum sending it in from near the byline. Forward Jairo Arrieta, a 73rd minute sub for Aaron Schoenfeld wedged the ball over MacMath for an historic game-winner.
Check Out the Video Recap of the Game
The epic three-goal outburst to win in Philadelphia sent the Union crashing and burning out of postseason contention. Fresh off the momentum from the unlikely victory, Crew SC would travel to Red Bull Arena a week later and dominate New York 3-1 to make their appearance in the playoffs official.
In many respects, what took place that night has had ripple effects lasting into this year. The Black and Gold appear to be a legitimate postseason threat once again in 2015 while Philadelphia has struggled. The Union’s predicament was magnified in the two clubs’ first meeting at MAPFRE Stadium where Columbus dominated in a 4-1 rout.
The only thing missing from the Crew SC ledger this season is a win on the road. It seems as if this mid-week match is as good an opportunity the club has had all year to reverse that trend. If they can avoid having a player sent off in the first half (which has happened in the last two road games), they’ll be well on their way.
And epic comeback from last year aside, it would do wonders for their chances of picking up three crucial road points if they can avoid falling into a 2-0 hole this time.
Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
