Crew Outplay Sounders

The Columbus Crew shocked the defending MLS Champion Seattle Sounders pulling off an impressive 3-nil win on a cool Saturday night at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.

While most are under strict guidelines that require no fans in attendance, it was interesting to see that they have listed 1,500 as the total attending the championship game, with many skeptics pondering the risk of infection. 

The opening minutes of the match saw each club get chances early in the contest, but were unable to capitalize at either end of the pitch. 

The Crew got first half goals from Lucas Zelarayan and Derrick Etienne 6 minutes apart that saw a dismal Sounders squad head to the dressing room at the half much to the frustration of Head Coach Brian Schmeter.

The opening goal by Columbus in the match was scored in the 25th minute after a corner cross ended up at the feet of Zelarayán, who seemed to be turning the opposite way and simply unable to slot it into the corner past a frustrated Sounders Stefan Frei. 

Continuing to press saw Columbus add to the score in the 31st minute when Etienne sent a curling shot in the bottom right corner to the shock of those watching from Seattle and surrounding area.

Sounders tender Frei, making his fourth MLS Cup appearance in the past five seasons all with Seattle, spent more time chasing balls that went behind him that watching the other end of the pitch, something he’s not used to. 

A somewhat dejected Sounders team headed to the dressing room at the half by being dominated in the goal department as well as being out-shot 8-2 through 45 minutes of playing time.

Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan told the media members on hand “They did a really good job of their center-mid pressing up against myself and Joao (Paulo) and they made it really difficult to turn (to counterattack), we needed to do a better job of being more composed.

The second half saw the Sounders play more of a unit that we are used to watching play either at BC Place or in Seattle, but seemed to be too little too late for the frustrated Sounders.

The Sounders loss saw them snap an eight-match winning streak in the MLS Cup Playoff book to what seemed to be a lackluster performance from the boys south of the 49th. 

Seattle finished the 2020 campaign with a 14-7-8 record which marked the fourth MLS Cup appearance for Sounders FC in the last five seasons. 

The Sounders had previously won the MLS title in 2016 and 2019 but were on the losing side in the 2017 season.

Lucas Zelarayan added the goal that clinched the teams championship in the 82nd minute as the Columbus defense did the rest in turning away the Seattle Sounders vaunted attack with Elroy Room shut the door to carry the team to victory for the Crew.

Seattle were not without their chances in the match testing the Columbus defense but could buy a goal on this night against the 2020 MLS champions as they were going for their third title in 5 years but they are full value for reaching the league finals and making the sports in the Emerald City proud.

The games most Valuable player Lucas Zelarayan also added an assist to go along with his two goals in the championship game for Columbus in being rewarded with the award in the title game along the way to the league championship Columbus recorded 308 minutes of shutout football against their opponents.

The win for Columbus was the third straight postseason shutout with photo credit to USA Today

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer put it bluntly after the match: “This game was a failure.”

Columbus, known for its defense, was on the attack from the start. 

Frei told the media “It was a daring first half on their end and it paid off and we just weren’t, for some reason, ready for that. I don’t have the answer for it. I wish after we dodged a couple of bullets early on, we would’ve woken up a little bit and would’ve been able to find our way into the game. We didn’t and we got punished.”

Crew coach Caleb Porter slotted 19-year-old Aidan Morris in for Nagbe, a 10-year MLS veteran. The championship match was the homegrown signee’s third start of his rookie season, the last in October, and first appearance in the postseason – the youngest player to do so in MLS.

Due to COVID-19 testing Columbus were without starters Darlington Nagbe (midfielder) and Pedro Santos (wing) who had tested positive for COVID-19 the day prior to the championship match. 

For whatever reason Seattle tried to play their normal style of game possibly expecting that Columbus would play to their normal defensive strengths on the ball. 

Columbus were obviously ready for a change in Seattle’s approach and changed their play by creating five set pieces in the opening 20 minutes of play, which seemed to shock the squad from Seattle.

Full Credit for the Match summary to the MLS

• MATCH SUMMARY

• • Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Columbus Crew SC 3
  • Saturday, December 12, 2020
  • Venue: MAPFRE Stadium
  • Referee: Jair Marrufo
  • Assistants: Corey Parker, Kathryn Nesbitt
  • Fourth Official: Alex Chilowicz
  • VAR: Drew Fischer
  • Attendance: 1,500
  • Weather: 46 degrees and cloudy

• SCORING SUMMARY

• • CLB – Lucas Zelarayán (Harrison Afful, Aidan Morris) 25’
  • CLB – Derrick Etienne (Lucas Zelarayán) 31’
  • CLB – Lucas Zelarayán (Luis Diaz) 82’

• MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

• • SEA – João Paulo (caution) 28’
  • SEA – Brad Smith (caution) 49’

• LINEUPS & STATS

• Total shots: 13 (Ruidíaz, 4)
• Shots on goal: 2 (C. Roldan/Ruidíaz, 1)
• Fouls: 13 (João Paulo/Lodeiro, 3)
• Offside: 0
• Corner-kicks: 8 (Lodeiro, 8)
• Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)

All-Time MLS Cup Champions

• 2020: Columbus Crew SC.
• 2019: Seattle Sounders.
• 2018: Atlanta United.
• 2017: Toronto FC.
• 2016: Seattle Sounders.
• 2015: Portland Timbers.
• 2014: LA Galaxy.
• 2013: Sporting Kansas City.