The Crew face Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night in the biggest game of the year. A win would push them closer to the playoffs, but a loss would all but put them out of postseason contention. The game could be the 2013 Crew’s season-defining moment. They face off against one of the top teams in the league and only a win will do.
Columbus has faced many do-or-die big games in recent years, but their record is decidedly mixed. The last several years a handful of games have defined the Crew’s season. Recent losses have portended early playoff exists with a big win setting the tone for a team that would sweep away all competition.
2012: Crew at D.C. United – Playoff Lifeline Extinguished
Last year, the Crew headed to Washington D.C. to take on D.C. United in the penultimate game of the season. They were neck and neck with the Houston Dynamo for the final playoff spot. Columbus needed a win to keep hope alive.
The Crew twice took the lead only to have the United come back to tie the game. With the score tied 2-2, Columbus pushed for a winner for the final thirty minutes. The visitors would pepper the goal, but wouldn’t break through.
The Crew’s playoff hopes ended when the home side broke on the counterattack and Lewis Neal scored the winning goal in stoppage time. The loss ensured the Crew would miss the postseason for the first time since 2007.
2011: Crew v. D.C. United – Stopping the Slide
Columbus came into their game against United on a six-game winless streak. They had given up six goals to Seattle and suffered their first-ever loss to Toronto F.C. the following game. They recorded a single point in September after leading the Eastern Conference through most of the season. The Crew were sliding down the standings and needed a win.
D.C. opened the scoring and took a 1-0 lead into the locker room at halftime and the Crew’s playoff chances looked bleak. Columbus would press for the equalizer and find it just after the half, forcing a D.C. mistake and an own goal. The Crew would get the winner minutes later off of Eddie Gaven’s acrobatic diving header.
The win would put the Crew back into solid playoff position, but they would then struggle to close out the season with losses to New England and Chicago. They were forced into the play-in round and lost to the Colorado Rapids, and an ignominious end to the season.
2010: Crew v. Philadelphia Union
Columbus was in far better position, but still was suffering from a late season swoon. The Crew hadn’t won since the beginning of September, a span of six games before facing off against the Union. The win would ensure another playoff appearance, but came at a cost.
The Crew won easily 3-1, but the lasting impact would be the injury suffered by William Hesmer that forced Eddie Gaven to play goal. Hesmer was unable to continue after a collision that separated his shoulder. With the Crew out of subs, Eddie Gaven was forced to don the gloves for the last five minutes of the game. The injury would force Andy Gruenebaum to start both playoff games against the Rapids. The Crew lost the two game series on penalties.
2009: Crew v. Seattle Sounders
Columbus was invincible at Crew Stadium. They had won 22 games in a row until October 3rd. The Crew were topping the league and the expansion Seattle Sounders were led by former coach Sigi Schmid and looking to secure a playoff spot.
The visitors got a shock lead in the first half and played a furious defensive game to keep the lead throughout the second half under intense pressure. Guillermo Barros Schelotto would miss a penalty kick late in the game and the home streak was over. The Crew would win a single game in October before crashing out of the playoffs to Real Salt Lake.
2008: Crew v. New England Revolution
The biggest game in years. There were still a lot of doubts about the upstart Crew team in September. They had survived a summer swoon and were leading the league when the second place Revs came to town. New England beat Columbus at Crew Stadium earlier in the year and this game would establish first place in the East.
The Crew would come out firing and pin the Revs back, but they would fail to break through. The home side was by far the better team, but were in danger of going into the half without a goal. Columbus would get the goal off of a Chad Marshall header just before the break. That would open the flood gates as the Crew would win 4-0.
They would run away with the Supporters Shield and win their first MLS Cup just months later, but their game against New England would be their statement they were the team to beat.
The Crew’s game against Sporting Kansas City could define the season. The 2013 season comes down to these 90 minutes. A win and the dream of the playoffs continues, a loss or even a tie and it’s time to look towards 2014.
