MLS WEEK 17, GAME #220
D.C. UNITED NOTES
*Came into the game at 6-7-3, 21 points, 8th in MLS Eastern Conference. 1-5-3 on road
*Leads Crew in overall series, 31-30-11
*Tied FC Cincinnati in its last game, 0-0
*An original MLS member
*Head coach is Hernan Posada
*Used a 4-3-4 alignment last night
*Coach Hernan for most of the season was publicly critical of his team being out of shape and not physically fit
*Prior to last night, had won only 1 of last 13 games in Columbus
*D.C. United got two goals each from former Crew star Ola Kamara (19′, 45′ +3 Penalty kick) and Yordy Reyna (40′, 74′)
*Ola Kamara, very popular when he played for Columbus, never celebrated even after scoring goals. It was out of respect for the fans who supported him in 2016 and 2017
*Starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid got injured early in game and was replaced by former Columbus Crew keeper Jon Kempin who played in the Capital city from 2018-2020 and helped the Crew win the MLS Cup last year.
COLUMBUS CREW NOTES
*An original MLS member team
*Head coach is Caleb Porter, who has won MLS Cup’s with Portland and Columbus
*Were 20-8-7 in Columbus vs. D.C. United
*Lost at New York City FC last Friday night in Yankee Stadium, 4-1
*Came into the game 6th in the MLS Eastern Conference standings at 6-4-6
*Eric Hurtado, recently acquired from FC Montreal, made his 5th start for the Crew
*Kevin Molino, rounding into shape after spending weekd rehabbing a hamstring, is looking better every match
*Captain Jonathan Mensah, always the professional, admitted to the media last night that he did not play well and apologized to the fans and teammates. His tackling Kevin Paredes in the box area, led to Ola Kamara’s penalty kick in the 19th minute for a 1-0 D.C. United lead
*Attendance last night was 18,398
*The games vs. NY City FC and D.C. United are the first time the Crew has given up 3+ goals in back-to-back games since October 16 & 23 2016. 3-2 at NY Red Bulls & NY City FC, 4-1
*The Crew game up only 12 goals the first 14 games, but now have given up 8 in the past two games with leaky backline defense
*Stoppage time last night was a whopping 7 minutes in the first half and 6 minutes in the second half
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