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Welcome to the Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from a previous Columbus Crew match. For match 30 of the 2022 MLS season, we look at Cucho Hernandez’s 41st minute goal that evened the match during the Crew’s 2-1 loss at Inter Miami on Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the goal from Columbus’s striker.
Molino drives. Moreira dishes. Cucho finishes. #Crew96 | 1-1 pic.twitter.com/P5uSFu5wzP
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) September 14, 2022
The Black & Gold trekked down to Ft. Lauderdale following a strong showing in Montreal that was upended by a late-game collapse following a Luis Diaz red card. Facing off against Inter Miami without Diaz, and with points crucial to retaining a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs, Kevin Molino stepped into the starting lineup, giving Columbus another creative option in the attack.
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Hernandez’s goal begins with a long Miami switch of fields that is misplayed. The ball bounces high into the air as left back Will Sands and winger Derrick Etienne Jr. battle for possession.
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Etienne wins the ball and sets off toward midfield.
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Under defensive pressure, Etienne turns the ball back toward the Columbus goal and surveys the field.
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Etienne buys himself some time and space and has four options. He can play a quick pass forward to Hernandez, carry the ball forward, try a square pass to Molino or hit a diagonal drop to Darlington Nagbe.
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The winger moves the attack forward and plays a quick pass toward Hernandez.
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Molino and right back Steven Moreira take off on the attack while Hernandez lets the ball run across his body and out in front of him.
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As the ball moves forward, Hernandez shifts his position to shield the ball from the Inter Miami defender and can either play a long pass forward to midfielder Lucas Zelarayan, carry the ball forward, play a touch pass to Molino or hit a long diagonal pass into the path of Moreira.
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Hernandez spots Moreira’s run and hits a ball into the space in front of the right back.
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Moreira receives the ball and immediately has three options. He can continue forward toward the Miami goal, try a tough pass back to Hernandez or play a drop back to Molino.
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Moreira touches the ball back to Molino and sets off down the field.
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Molino receives the ball with yards of space to operate. He carries forward as the Black & Gold attack develops.
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Molino approaches Ari Lassiter and must decide whether to. He can send the ball back to Moreira, take Lassiter off the dribble or play a square pass to Hernandez.
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Molino slows down and then uses a quick burst of speed to easily carry the ball around Lassiter.
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Just in front of Miami’s defensive block, Molino has another decision to make. He can play a through pass forward to Moreira, attempt to carry the ball into the Inter goal box or play a difficult pass through the defense toward Hernandez.
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Molino hits a perfectly-timed pass in front of Moreira, allowing the right back to stay onside.
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Moreira sprints toward the ball as the Crew attackers make runs into the goal box. Zelarayan makes a run toward the back of the penalty box, Hernandez dashes toward the penalty spot and Molino continues toward the goal.
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Moreira approaches the ball and must decide between four options for his first touch. He can take a touch around defender Christopher McVey toward the goal, play a long pass across the 18-yard box to Zelarayan, try a cross toward Hernandez near the penalty spot or play a short pass on the ground toward Molino.
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Columbus’ right back spots Hernandez and tees up a cross for his eighth assist of the season.
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Moreira’s cross loops toward the penalty spot as Aime Mabika and Hernandez try to time the ball’s trajectory.
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Mabika and Hernandez both jump for the ball...
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...but Mabika is unable to reach it as Hernandez tees up a headed chance at goal.
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Hernandez takes an open header toward Drake Callender’s goal.
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As he has done a few times this season, Hernandez heads the ball down into the ground, looking to use the bounce to make a save more difficult for Callender.
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The ball takes a bounce and continues toward the goal, leaving Callender to watch as the ball bounds past him...
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...into the back of the net.
Findings:
- The Black & Gold once again find strong opportunities on a counter attack. Etienne begins the direct play forward while Molino and Moreira continue pushing toward the goal.
- Molino does well to carry the ball until defensive resistance comes and then plays a perfectly timed and weighted pass toward Moreira.
- Moreira’s assist, an inch-perfect cross, tied the team record for assists by a defender with eight.
- Hernandez isn’t the tallest player on the roster, but he’s displayed a knack for scoring headed goals. He does so again here and expertly bounces the ball off the ground in front of him to create a more difficult save situation for Callender.
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