The Columbus Crew tied an improved DC United side 1-1 on Saturday at Lower.com Field. Cucho Hernandez returned to the lineup after he missed two games due to a “team policy violation”, which caused the rumor mill to circulate among fans. Another player who made their return was Will Sands, starting for the first time since tearing his ACL in 2023.
It was a back-and-forth game all night long, with DC generating some good chances and Columbus having some solid spells of possession. United found the breakthrough in the second half courtesy of Christian Benteke. The ball ricocheted off a United player’s back and into the Belgian’s path, allowing him to slot it past Patrick Schulte. The Black & Gold responded though, even after Hernandez earned himself a red card for kicking out at a DC player. Aidan Morris unleashed a thunderbolt from outside the box to square the game. That is how the contest would end, another draw for the Crew.
Wilfried Nancy did not change much about his team, but they struggled at times against DC United’s pressure. Let’s dive into the tactics of both sides that influenced this match.
Columbus’ strategy
The Black & Gold lined up in their usually five/three back formation with two midfielders and three attackers. Yet again though, they would not play the game in a set 5-2-3 or 3-4-3 formation.
The Crew shifted to a 3-3-4 when they retained the ball. Wingback Max Arfsten would pinch towards the center of the field to team up with Darlington Nagbe and Morris as midfielders. While he became a midfielder, Arfsten still stayed on the right side of the pitch, acting as a half-pivot for Marino Hinestroza.
Morris did the same but on the left side. Sands went high up the pitch as a winger and Morris bridged the gap. This left Nagbe alone to man the center of the pitch with the center backs as support if needed.
The outside center backs were more cautious going up the pitch because they had one less midfielder to cover for them. Morris and Arfsten being out wide would have left the Black & Gold in a vulnerable spot if Steven Moreira or Malte Amundsen went forward. So, for now, the outside centerbacks stayed put.
Up top, Hernandez and Diego Rossi controlled the two striker positions. They were free to drop in or drift wide if needed. Hinestroza and Sands occupied the outer areas, looking to cut in or whip crosses into dangerous areas.
On defense, Columbus continued to play their pressing and re-pressing soccer with some minor changes. Game planning for a striker like Benteke requires special thought, which is exactly what went into Nancy’s plan.
The Black & Gold pressed on every United touch, trying to drive them back toward their own goal. This allowed the Crew to re-engage the re-press and turn the ball over higher up the pitch.
For Benteke, the same rule applied. Columbus wanted to make him feel uncomfortable with every touch. They knew DC wanted to get him the ball and build their attack around him holding up play, so they had one of the center backs man always marking Benteke.
This limited some of United’s attacks, but Benteke still found his goal. In the end, the Crew were fortunate to still get a point after going down to ten men, but they will take it and move forward to Tigres.
DC United’s strategy
On offense, DC’s entire plan was to play through Benteke. One of the best hold-up strikers in MLS is a nice asset to have up top, especially when you have speed on the wings.
United went back to their youth soccer roots, going over and over to a pattern of play that is taught from a young age. The up-back-through technique was perfect for a player like Benteke and for a team that sets up like DC does.
United would play the ball into Benteke’s feet, get the ball back to one of the midfielders and then place a pass through to one of the wings. This allowed Benteke to spin off the defender and find space in the box to receive a cross.
This strategy was perfect to counter Columbus’ aggressive approach. If the center backs got too overzealous, DC could get in behind with a numbers advantage. This was the case on a few attacks, but heroics from Shulte and other defenders kept the game scoreless until Benteke found the breakthrough in the 61st minute.
On defense, United wanted to make the Black & Gold as uncomfortable as possible. The visitors pressed high up the field trying to prey on the Crew’s mistakes. Their plan worked well, it limited Columbus to one goal on the night and it was an unstoppable shot.
There was nothing that United could have done to prevent Morris’ screamer. One may argue that the defense could have stepped up sooner, but from that distance, it was implausible for the young midfielder to score such a goal.
Despite comprehension, Morris buried the ball in the back of the net, gifting the Black & Gold a point at home. DC played Columbus well, but it will be interesting to see how the Crew responds against Tigres.
Comments