“We want to play an attractive, attacking style of play, and we want to be risk takers. We want the fans to come into the stadium and enjoy what they are seeing and really embrace what they are seeing. We want it to be part of themselves. That’s what Columbus is about, it’s about individuals willing to take risks and putting themselves out there to stand by a product and stand by what they have created.”
This is how Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter describes his soccer philosophy. Over the past two seasons, Black & Gold supporters have come to enjoy and embrace the Berhalter brand of Crew SC soccer that has captivated the Capital City and turned heads around the League.
Crew SC has scored 110 goals over the last two regular-season campaigns and collected 105 regular-season points during the Berhalter era so far. No other coach in club history has a higher career points-earned percentage.
Berhalter is one of only three MLS head coaches to lead their clubs to MLS Cup appearances within in their first two seasons in the League, and one of just four current head coaches to win at least 29 games within their first two seasons.
In 2014, Berhalter became the first coach in Crew SC history to lead the team into the postseason in his first full year without previous interim experience at the club, and he is only the second coach in club history to win at least 14 matches in each of his first two full seasons.
During these two seasons, Crew SC supporters have come to enjoy some spectacular matches. Here are our top 5.
4-1 Rout of the LA Galaxy on August 16, 2014
In front of a sellout crowd at MAPFRE Stadium, Crew SC exploded for four goals against the LA Galaxy. In what was arguably the best performance of the 2014 season, the Black & Gold outshot the visitors 21-17. What’s more important, the victory sparked an 8-2-1 run to close out the season and earn a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Historic Comeback in Philly on October 11, 2014
After falling behind 2-0 late in the second half, Crew SC pulled off one of the most remarkable comebacks in club history when the Black & Gold scored three goals in just four minutes to defeat the Philadelphia Union. Ethan Finlay scored in the 78th minute, Justin Meram followed suit in the 79th, and Jairo Arrieta completed the miracle comeback with the game winner in the 82nd. It was an incredible display of the Black & Gold’s character under Berhalter’s leadership.
Taming the Lions on April 18, 2014
It was a perfect soccer night at MAPFRE Stadium in front of a loud crowd that enjoyed three spectacularly beautiful goals by Federico Higuain (a cheeky back heel), Justin Meram (a rocket of a shot into the top corner) and Kei Kamara (a fine chip). It was the Crew SC trio, not Brazilian superstar Kaka, that stole the show in the Black & Gold’s first-ever encounter with expansion side Orlando City.
Dismantling D.C. on October 25, 2015
Crew SC’s Decision Day performance against D.C. United was a tribute to the depth Gregg Berhalter has brought to his team. Without star striker Kei Kamara and playmaker Federico Higuain the Black & Gold dismantled D.C. United 5-0, as nine different players scored a goal or assist in this match. The goal margin helped move Crew SC past the Portland Timbers in the Supporters’ Shield Standings and ultimately allowed Columbus to host MLS Cup.
Ousting the Impact on November 8, 2015
19,026 fans witnessed one of Crew SC’s greatest home matches in club history, when the Black & Gold defeated the Montreal Impact 3-1 in extra time to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship. On this November night, the Black & Gold were 13 minutes from playoff elimination but Ethan Finlay and Kei Kamara turned the series around and MAPFRE Stadium into a madhouse.
