COLUMBUS, Ohio – Columbus Crew SC gutted out another draw on Saturday night, as they attempt to make do without some key players, this time equalizing the New York Red Bulls at MAPFRE Stadium, 1-1.
Last week, an injury-depleted Crew SC felt good about keeping a clean sheet against a quality opponent in a 0-0 draw with the Montreal Impact. Saturday, they snatched a point at home through an Ola Kamara equalizer in the 93rd minute.
But while everyone on the team admits they’d rather be winning than drawing, there’s no panic in the Columbus locker room.
“I’ve played this game for a long time,” said goalkeeper Steve Clark. “It’s late June. There are no must-win games right now. But saying that, every time we step on the field, we want to win. But I don’t feel like we’re going home in a relegation battle or something.”
Head coach Gregg Berhalter said he wouldn’t use the long-term absences of Federico Higuain and Gaston Sauro as excuses.
He did, however, appreciate the way his team responded after giving up a goal in the 52nd minute.
“It was one of those that you’ve got to dig deep for,” he said. “It wasn’t our best night. Give [New York] credit for how they press…But I’m proud of the effort. Your back is against the wall, you’re looking at a loss and you keep going. We kept going and we got something out of it.”
At times this season, the Columbus locker room has been depressed after a draw, as they were after they blew a three-goal lead to allow a 4-4 draw to Montreal in May.
But after getting two points against two of the Eastern Conference’s most respected teams, Crew SC players say the morale is fine.
“Sometimes ties feel like losses, sometimes ties feel like wins,” Clark said. “Our goal today was to get three points, but when you come back in the [93rd] minute to get that goal, it feels good.”
Columbus is just 1-4-3 in their last eight matches, but they are looking toward similar stretches in each of the last two seasons for inspiration. After pulling out of skids in the summer, the 2014 team went on to earn a No. 3 seed in the East, while last year’s team went to the MLS Cup Final.
“Every team has difficulties,” said midfielder Mohammed Saeid. “Last year, we were in the [MLS Cup] final. I’m sure we can do it again, we’ve just got to tuck away the chances we have and stick together as a team. God knows where we’ll end up.”
