The Impact is back at Olympic Stadium, this Saturday at 4pm EDT, to take on Columbus Crew SC (TVA Sports, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). Here are 10 things to know about the opponent before this second home game.
Context
The Impact may have lost two straight games on the road, but Columbus is one of two teams in MLS that haven’t won a game this season (the other is DC United). Gregg Berhalter’s team just grabbed an away point with a 1-1 tie at FC Dallas, but they let a 1-0 lead slip when they conceded a 77th-minute equalizer.
Current form (including 2015 Regular Season and MLS Cup Playoffs)
L-L-L-L-T-T
Head coach
Gregg Berhalter (29-23-20 all-time as Columbus Crew SC head coach) has been head coach and sporting director of Crew SC since November 6, 2013, months after new owner Anthony Precourt took over the club. As Precourt worked on reinventing the club’s brand, Berhalter worked on reinventing the team’s style, bringing them back to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in three seasons on his first attempt. After an Eastern Conference semifinal loss to New England Revolution, in 2014, Berhalter led Crew SC to the 2015 MLS Cup, where the Portland Timbers prevailed.
Current top scorer
Federico Higuaín, Kei Kamara and Justin Meram (1)
Players to watch
1. Kei Kamara (#23) – Back in MLS in 2015, Kamara bullied opposing backlines with 22 goals, an impeccable work rate and aerial play to be reckoned with.
2. Harrison Afful (#25) – Acquired last summer, Afful filled a definite need on the right side of the defence, where he has been very active – especially when it comes to supporting the attacking phase.
3. Wil Trapp (#20) – The more withdrawn of the two central midfielders, his defensive contribution is significant, but his long passes can also break a defence down.
Team profile
Berhalter’s Crew SC wants to play. They are among the best in MLS when it comes to holding the ball, playing it short but never refraining from widening the play to strongly involved side backs. These two players bring width to Crew SC’s game, but they will cut inside from time to time to receive a through ball. If they do work their flank, cutbacks, as well as crosses to Kamara, can lead to chances. Behind Kamara, Federico Higuaín enjoys a rather free role – building up play next to Trapp, moving forward as a nominal second striker, etc. Higuaín is also one of those players that can turn a game around with an unpredictable moment of magic. Either side of him, wide midfielders – whether their name is Hector Jimenez, Ethan Finlay or Justin Meram – look for pockets of space in central positions. As such, the flanks can be freed up in the defensive transition, and Columbus has been looking vulnerable in wide positions on the counter. Set plays have also been a problem; while Kamara and Meram both did score on such situations, Crew SC has also conceded twice on set pieces (a free kick against Portland and a long throw against Philadelphia).
Tactical formation
Gregg Berhalter enjoys 4-2-3-1. Lineup v. Dallas (April 2): Clark; Afful, Parkhurst, Sauro, Francis; Trapp, Saeid; Finlay, Higuaín, Meram; Kamara.
Against the Impact last season
These two teams faced off twice last season, the Impact winning both: 2-1 in Columbus on June 6, with goals from Maxim Tissot and Andrés Romero, and 3-0 at Stade Saputo on June 6, thanks to a Dominic Oduro brace and a Marco Donadel screamer. But the Impact lost to Crew SC in the Eastern Conference semifinals, 4-3 on aggregate.
Injuries (as of April 6)
F Ola Kamara (right thigh injury)
F Conor Casey (concussion)
D Corey Ashe (left thigh sprain)
Next games
Columbus Crew SC v. New York City FC (MLS, April 16)
Columbus Crew SC v Houston Dynamo (MLS, April 23)
Seattle Sounders FC v. Columbus Crew SC (MLS, April 30)
