Federico Higuain continues to bedazzle fans of the beautiful game in Columbus.
The Argentinian attacking midfielder assisted on all three Columbus Crew SC goals on Saturday in the Black and Gold’s 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls. His playmaking quality was on full display in front of the sold out crowd of 20,008 who witnessed the club vault to fourth in the Eastern Conference with the result.
Crew SC is now unbeaten in its last seven games, the longest such stretch for the club since 2011.
Federico Higuain Registers Assist Hat Trick as Columbus Crew SC Unbeaten Run Continues
It only took six minutes for the home side to jump out to an advantage. After a foul near the left touchline 35 yards out from goal, Higuain stepped up and flung in a well-placed cross into the box. And Jonathan Mensah got on the end of it, heading the ball past Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles to put Crew SC ahead 1-0.
G⚽️AAAAAL!!!
WELCOME BACK, @Jomens25! All it takes is one quick free kick and flick of the big fella's head!#CrewSC | #CLBvNY pic.twitter.com/ufwzYALNqz— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) September 23, 2017
The tally was Mensah’s second of the season. And it came via a similar situation to his first against FC Dallas on August 26th. Despite frustrating issues in remaining stout defensively, the Ghanaian centerback is proving to be a reliable ball-winner in the air. His 2.8 aerials won per 90 is second on the team and he showed his quality in that regard on Crew SC’s first goal.
The Red Bulls certainly had the makings of a reeling side heading into this game. Counting their 2-1 loss to Sporting KC in Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup final, they came into it winless in their last six contests. But they responded immensely well to falling behind early.
Eight minutes after Crew SC opened up the scoring, RBNY equalized. And it came from their iconic attacking talisman up top, Bradley Wright-Phillips. The 32-year-old Englishman collected a pinpoint square ball from Sean Davis and calmly beat Steffen far post to tie things up and register his 16th goal of the season.
Goal No. 1️⃣6️⃣ for @BWPNINENINE, the 8️⃣5️⃣th of his @MLS career! ⚽️#CLBvNY | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/urFPZPVQ6c
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) September 24, 2017
For the most part, Crew SC chose to play differently than their normal possession-oriented style. Instead, they tried to utilize the speed of their attacking midfielders in hitting RBNY in transition. Head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter felt that tactical course of action was the best way to exploit potential mismatches.
“I think it’s identifying the weaknesses of the opponent,” Berhalter noted. “And Red Bull, they have a lot of strengths and they have some weaknesses and when you identify the weaknesses you try to exploit them.”
Much like the opening 45, Crew SC gained a foothold on the game early on in the second half. In the 54th minute, Higuain found Meram making a blistering run down the left hand side of the field. The Iraqi international tucked inside and in so doing sent defender Fidel Escobar to the ground. He then deftly curled it past Robles far post for his 12th of the season.
https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/911755461677998082
On a day when one Crew SC centerback already etched his name onto the score sheet, it was only fitting for the other to do so as well. And 12 minutes after Meram’s tally, that’s exactly what happened. Like Mensah before him, Josh Williams came onto an Higuain set piece cross with his head. His first goal since April 27, 2013 made it 3-1 Columbus.
Behind the goal for Ohio's own @josh3williams' game-winner! #CrewSC | #CLBvNY pic.twitter.com/ymG0VT6sQL
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) September 24, 2017
The 29-year-old MLS veteran, now in his second stint with the Black and Gold, felt that he was due for a goal after such a lengthy drought.
“I told him after (Mensah) scored that I was going to get one this game, Williams told the Columbus Dispatch. “On my goal, it’s one of those things that, I don’t know if it’s intuition or what, but I just felt like it was coming.”
But not long thereafter, Crew SC’s continued propensity for conceding second half goals cropped up. It came as Jonathan Mensah took down 59th minute substitute Gonzalo Veron in the box. Referee Fotis Bazakos initially made no call, but after a VAR review, he pointed to the spot. Veron converted spot kick in the 72nd minute to bring RBNY within a goal.
Gonzalo Veron pulls one back from the spot!! ⚽️#CLBvNY | #RBNY pic.twitter.com/3YUpvkAW7U
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) September 24, 2017
This time around, though, a repeat performance from last week in Vancouver where they left two points on the board in conceding a late goal was not in the offing. The defensive line held firm in limiting chances for the Red Bulls down the stretch. After Veron’s tally, RBNY didn’t register a single shot of any kind.
It’s a testament to the short memory this group has and its ultra-sharp focus in preparing for the task at hand.
“Last week was a disappointment to concede that late goal, and it was about regrouping,” Berhalter emphasized. “I think, for us, the focus is purely on our next opponent and how can we beat them. And the guys have that mentality.”
What the club also has is a dynamic number ten who’s providing service as well as any other player who occupies his role in the league. His trifecta of helpers makes him the 12th player to reach the ten assist mark in MLS this year. And rest assured that his teammates greatly appreciate that ability to create and facilitate both via set pieces and open play.
“I’ve been around him for years now and, you know, the guy’s a little wizard,” Williams said. “I think guys know that as long as you make a good run, as long as you get in a good position, chances are he’s going to find you. He’s going to put the ball on your head or on your foot.”
Crew SC returns to action next Saturday when they welcome D.C United to Columbus. The last of two matchups between the clubs in 2017 is the final home game of the year for the Black and Gold. Kickoff from MAPFRE Stadium takes place at 7:30 PM ET.
MAIN PHOTO:
HARRISON, NJ – APRIL 22: Columbus Crew forward Federico Higuain (10) during the second half of the Major League Soccer game between the New York Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew FC on April 22, 2017 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
