Crew Coverage pres. by Medical Mutual | Nancy: Crew show ‘resilience’ in draw with Nashville

Last week, the Columbus Crew played on the road, dealt with adversity and lost. A similar situation unfolded on Saturday night, as the Crew found themselves back on the road and trailing. Again, a substitution was made due to an injury. 

However, this time the Club played through adversity and found a late equalizing goal, sealing a 2-2 Black & Gold draw with Nashville SC at GEODIS Park.

“I think that we did a really good game in terms of resilience,”  head coach Wilfried Nancy said after the match. “We did a good first half. We conceded these two goals knowing that Nashville, they are really good at [this], and this is something that we put the focus on, but we didn't make the play when it was a good moment to do it.” 

“The second half was really good, really good right away. We had the momentum. We had the PK, and we missed it, yes, but they kept pushing. I really liked the attitude of the guys because I remember last year, same game, we lost 3-1, and it was a big gap between Nashville and us. 

“Now, we can see that we did a good job. We did a good job with that. I'm disappointed a bit because we could have another goal, I would say, but I'm happy about the ways they fought together.”

The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute when Sean Zawadzki scored his first goal of 2024. Diego Rossi whipped an out-swinging corner to the back post, where Zawadzki was there to thump a header to the opposite post – leaving Nashville flat footed and stunned.

Columbus carried momentum throughout the first half, but then found itself trailing at halftime. Hany Mukhtar leveled the scoring in the third minute of stoppage time before Aníbal Godoy gave Nashville the lead via a bicycle kick five minutes later. 

“I was disappointed with that halftime because we did a good first half,” Nancy said. 

But the Crew clawed back. Diego Rossi earned a penalty in the first minute of the second half, however, his effort hit the post. 

They equalized eventually arrived in the 79th minute when Marino Hinestroza scored his first goal for Columbus. 

Controlling play, the Black & Gold possessed the ball along the top of the box, working it from right to left. Yaw Yeboah, receiving the ball on the corner of the 18-yard box, then made a move to the end line and crossed it to the back post, where Hinestroza was waiting to head it to the opposite post.

“I'm pleased for him because again, he needs time,” Nancy said of the goal scorer. “We try to give him the time to assess everything and to understand everything but also, he has to be himself, the way he plays. Today, it was good to see him attack the box and to see him being good on the one-v-one and also to help us when we had to defend. 

“He got the reward with the goal. Really good goal – composed and was able to put a good header on the opposite side of the goalkeeper. Again, this is going to give him a boost so this is good for him and for everyone.”

With the result, the Crew remain unbeaten in five-of-their-first-six matches to start the 2024 MLS regular season. The attention now shifts to another competition, though.

On Tuesday night, the Crew host Tigres UANL at Lower.com Field in leg one of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals. Tickets are still available to see the reigning MLS Cup champs take on a strong Liga MX side. 

It’s a quick turnaround before a big game, but Nancy said his team will be prepared. 

“Now, we are going to go back home and rest, and this is the most important,” Nancy said. “Tomorrow regeneration. After that, on Monday we're going to be put the game plan in place and go again. Listen, the game is going to help the recovery because we had a good game – we didn't win, yes, but the performance was a good performance tonight so it's going to better.”