WASHINGTON – There were the tactics to limit Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta. There were Federico Higuain's two goals and Zack Steffen’s two penalty saves.
But in the end, the reason Columbus Crew SC gave for advancing from another Knockout Round encounter on Thursday night was the confidence in their identity, even when events around them gave reason to question.
“We believe in each other,” Higuain explained. “It doesn’t mean that we’re going to win MLS Cup, but it means that we want to play these games.”
There were plenty of chances to question that belief in Columbus’ first visit to Audi Field, a contest ultimately decided by Crew SC’s 3-2 victory on PKs following a 2-2 draw with D.C United.
While Columbus also survived this round last year following a 0-0 draw against Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, there weren’t nearly as many gut-check moments in that one.
On Thursday, the first one arrived after 21 minutes, when DC's Frederic Brillant bundled a header over the line after Steffen failed to deal with Acosta’s cross.
“I think in that moment, in the playoffs, it’s so easy to turn on each other and get [upset] at what’s going on in the environment around you,” said Crew SC midfielder Wil Trapp. “And what we did really well was just, we just kept sticking to the plan. I can’t echo it enough. The way we win games, the way we were effective, is just having a game plan and executing it.”
That sent a sellout of 20,600 roaring, believing this would be the latest in a string of recent triumphs. Yet Crew SC required only nine minutes to quash that momentum with Higuain’s equalizer, taking Steffen off the hook.
“He came in at halftime and said, ‘Thanks for bailing me out guys,’” coach Gregg Berhalter said
Said Trapp: “I told him, ‘We’re going to need you to win us this game.’”
Yet before Steffen could play hero, there would be yet another opportunity for doubt.
After going ahead through Higuain’s second goal six minutes into extra time, Columbus were five minutes away from victory when Nick DeLeon struck among the unlikeliest of playoff equalizers, a ferocious half volley from the edge of the 18. It was the D.C. right back’s first regular season or playoff goal since Aug. 27, 2016.
“At that point, it’s really just about managing emotions,” Trapp said. “And understanding that there’s about five or eight minutes left in the game, and we have to just really embrace each other and understand that we’ve got to stick together in those moments.”
Columbus closed ranks to see out the extra time. Then Steffen dove right twice to deny two of MLS’s most dangerous attackers in Acosta and Rooney, in the process fulfilling Trapp’s prediction. Cruelly, DeLeon turned from hero to goat, sending D.C.’s fifth and final PK soaring well over the crossbar.
“I just tried to stay in the moment and keep the nerves down,” Steffen said, “and try to have fun with it.”
Said Berhalter: “I saw calm in our group. I think after they scored, that’s when we got control of the match again. Maybe one moment of injury time they they had a little bit, they threatened us, but we were calm.
“Having a goalie that can save penalties really helps.”
