Crew V Atlanta
An interesting game, a few players who have been on both rosters, a 2nd generation player from a big time soccer family in Derrick Etienne Jr. as well as Darlington Nagbe. A new team with a great new stadium, facing an established franchise, embattled scant seasons ago both vying to get to the next round, the established one prevailed, how much does that mean? Thus far in the playoffs, only one home team has lost, it is a 3 game series, no game will end in a tie. It will be very interesting as the second legs begin to see how this home field situation bears itself out.
Gressel with a huge opportunity in the first less than minute and a half, he is unable to make anything of it as he did not go straight at the net. Before 3 and a half minutes, Camacho, sliding, hits an opponent in the upper shoulder with his knee, all going for ball, no call and Atlanta has a corner from the sliding play. The player stayed down for some time. Robinson breaks up some great ball movement and the Crew have a corner, Morris is down, foul call and the offender gets a stern talking to. Morris is down again, his team did not stop play, neither does Atlanta, the ball comes to him, he is a bit up, makes a play on the ball then right back down again. A ball in by Atlanta is partially blocked and the Crew GK grabs it. Nagbe with a blast, knocked down from 30 yards by Guzan after a few half chances in close. Crew holding but go into their half twice. Lost it the top of the area won as they are converged upon and it is lost. Matan has been down for a bit since losing the ball was struck pretty well, it may go to VAR, but at worst a yellow, if anything, nothing it is. Morris again hit and persistent infringement called and the yellow goes to Muyumba. From a distance the DFK is in, then out as Cucho sends it back in but wide on a bicycle kick. Camacho beats his man and Matan just shy of the ball well in the area. High ball in for Atlanta and the GK goes up for and gets it. Cucho on the end of the break sends a curling one well wide of the upper 90 from afar. Cucho wins a corner for the home side and they make some noise. Camacho on the full side volley off a pass from Cucho, skies it. Silva looking for Lennon is too high. Morris to Yeboah, Cucho wants it, Morris gets it. Matan from Yeboah, back to him then Nagbe, finds Rossi, denied by Robinson and they win a corner. A pair of headers by the Crew and is over the net. Nagbe goes way high with plenty of time. Gressel with a hard foul has his mark rolling over. Matan is down and lots of words, a straight leg foul, studs up is possibly a straight red, but with the player on a yellow he gets a break, luckily it was not a leg. A trio of minutes of extra time, Cucho goes upper corner off his left, beating the GK and defender, Guzan is not happy and there was no denying this shot. Robinson just pushed aside, the sliding defender was in vain as it went in at 8 feet. Just minutes earlier, Meola stated if Atlanta goes in at 0-0 it would be very good for them. Muyumba with another foul, again it is mentioned that the ref is doing what he can to keep all 11 on the field, why, that is not his job, Morris again is the victim. This one may not have been a foul, I question more why his coach has yet to pull him, I would rather not have the player for the larger portion of the game than to play one down and not have him for at least one full game. The boo birds are in good voice showing their displeasure in this player still being out there.
Muyumba is in fact out, the half does not count as a subbing window, so you do use a sub, but not an opportunity to replace players. Columbus draws a PK as Hernandez fouled Matan a 49’. He ball was barely on the toe of Matan as he went away from the goal, poor decision by the Atlanta player. Over the ball is Cucho he is batting 1000 over 5 pks this year. The kick is more or less down the middle the crowd roars and lights go on and off, not a good practice as it may be a big trigger with people with TMI’s, (traumatic brain injuries), they are far more common than one would think. A ball in headed out of play by Atlanta and another corner for the Crew. Guzan, a bit off his line, no problem getting this one. Gressel with a steal, a meg and it’s in on goal for Rossi, but too far from Cucho. Atlanta goes end line, then over it, GK Crew. Mosquera for Silva and Tiare for Hernandez the subs for Atlanta at 60’. Camacho with a sliding tackle gives up a throw. Mosquera beats one gets it to the penalty spot, partially cleared, then Atlanta gets on goal but it is sterred wide. With 25’ to go, the Crew still have their full compliment of subs, they need to start thinking of their next game, getting others some time. From 25 yards, Lennon over the ball looking for his player and its headed out, they retain the ball on a throw. A hard tackle, ball out off the Crew and another throw for the 5 stripes. Foul and a card on Robinson to be taken from about 25 yards left of goal on Rossi, not quite the forearm shiv Rossi made it out to be but a caution and close DFK. Though traffic nudged by Cucho and Guzan has a bead on it the whole time. Nagbe is down for a bit. Rossi and Cucho battle for it, Atlanta keeps it. Now with less than 15’ to go Atlanta still playing with no urgency, there is no goal aggregate factored into in this round, why not go for broke, get one back or give one up, still a loss, are they saving themselves for the home game? Yellow on Jamal for a kick on Ratan. Camacho with a yellow after some serious action in the 6, Guzan with a stop and his defense cleans it up. Fortune draws a yellow, then pushes the player with the ref right here, the foul was not yellow worthy, others earlier were. A long ball over the top goes over the line Atlanta. A few fouls, one is called on Atlanta.