San Jose hands Columbus Crew SC 2-1 road loss

Columbus Crew SC have made a habit of living without playmaker Federico Higuain. The Argentine missed another game and the Crew SC offense sputtered as Columbus fell 2-1 in San Jose.

Chris Wondolowski would have a couple chances off corners. He would fire just wide in the first minute and forced an acrobatic save from Zack Steffen to keep the game scoreless. The sneaky attacker would give the towering Alex Crognale fits. Wondolowski had the best chance early too with a tight angle shot that forced a 10th minute save.

Crew SC struggled to connect the final pass. The visitors had the possession edge, but none of that would test San Jose in the first half as Columbus would only put a single shot on goal.

The home team would finally grab the lead late in the first half and it was a series of Crew SC defensive gaffes that would open the door. Mensah slipped after trying to recover a giveaway. Shea Salinas would send the ball into the box that Ureña would pick up. He turned Crognale and fired a shot that rang the post and caromed in.

Wondolowski would open the second half with shot that was deflected. He picked up the rebound and Steffen was once again up to the task to keep the game at a single goal margin.

San Jose would get their second goal in the 57th minute. The home side would send in a quick throw to Tommy Thompson. He beat Wil Trapp and Mensah to the end line and sent a cutback cross Wondolowski who had created vital operation from Nico Naess. The veteran finished easily from close range.

The Quakes looked like they would see out the game with ease and went into a defensive posture. The change allowed Crew SC to grow into the game. The timely insertion of Adam Jahn to replace Crognale would lead to the Columbus goal as the towering forward swept a Mensah knockdown in the 75th minute to cut the lead to 2-1.

San Jose was staggering after that Crew SC goal, but they’d steady when Vako entered the game. The Quakes would hit the frame three times in the waining minutes as Vako, Wondolowski, and Thompson would all have golden chances to give the home team some breathing room. It wouldn’t matter in the end as they saw out the remaining minutes without threat.

No Missed Chances

Often a team will rue their missed chances in a loss, but Columbus had 10 shots total and only four on target. Crew SC’s offense was often misfiring and Jahn finished the best chance of the night. Columbus deserved their one goal. San Jose were the rightful winners.

Video Review’s Quiet Night

For the most part, the VAR had little to do. There was a notable delay after Crew SC scored. The goal was as cleanly scored a corner kick goal could be, but there was still a less than minute delay as it was assessed for review. The hope is that as everyone is familiar with the tool, the times decrease, but a 45 second pre-review doesn’t augur well for high scoring games.

What’s Next

Crew SC heads back home for the first time in four games, but the opposition doesn’t get easier. The Chicago Fire are on a tear and are challenging for the best record in MLS with Toronto. That game kicks off at 7:30 on Saturday, August 12th at MAPFRE