How They Scored: Columbus Crew

It’s been a spell since I’ve had to write one of these (praise be on high!) but Saturday brought about the need to do it again. (Collective deep breath and sigh here, please.) So, without too much ado, here is another presentation of How They Scored for the 2-0 loss against Columbus Crew, complete with a screen-by-screen breakdown. If you’ve wondered who to blame and who did their jobs, look no further.

How They Scored: Columbus Crew

Goal 1: Eddie Gaven (assist: Robbie Rogers)

1. Josh Gardner takes a throw-in for Columbus after a sloppy goal kick from Nick Rimando. Beating Robbie Russell to the ball is Tommy Heinemann, with Nat Borchers near the play as well.
2. Chris Schuler moves to the ball to tackle it away from Justin Meram, and the ball goes for another throw. Chris Schuler is currently on the right side of the defense, approximately where Robbie Russell will be, who is running back.
3. Receiving the throw is Robbie Rogers, who dribbles past Chris Schuler and moves toward the center. He is about 22 yards from the touchline. The sight of Chris Schuler’s extended leg grasping for the ball is burned in RSL fans’ memories.
4. Rogers beats Russell and Schuler into the box, and while Schuler is jogging back, Russell is trying to stay close to the quick Rogers.
5. Nat Borchers starts to move to the ball, and Chris Wingert moves to cover Tommy Heinemann. Left open is Eddie Gaven. With Rimando at his near post to prevent an easy goal, Rogers puts in a simple pass to the unmarked Gaven.
6. Gaven puts the ball past the leaping Rimando, who was left gasping by the normally stingy Real Salt Lake defense.

Goal 2: Tommy Heinemann (assist: Robbie Rogers)

1. Nick Rimando’s goal kick goes straight to a Columbus player, it comes back at RSL, then Nat Borchers clears. The ball soars but does not travel particularly far and a Columbus defender puts it back into the path of one his players, and...
2. Ned Grabavoy is beat to the ball by Robbie Rogers, who plays an efficient combination with Dejan Rusmir and Eddie Gaven. Robbie Rogers makes a bursting run down the left flank, where...
3. Robbie Russell can’t keep up with the speedy Rogers as he makes a bursting run to the touchline to swing in a cross, where...
4. Nat Borchers is in front of his man to take out the cross, but Chris Schuler is on his back, leaving Chris Wingert to cover the eventual goalscorer,
5. Tommy Heinemann, who, with Schuler on the back foot and Chris Wingert behind him, is given a free header in the box. He connects well with it, and the ball goes toward...
6. Nick Rimando who was ready to move to the near side of the goal but made a good jump to the far side, gets a hand on the ball, but it rebounds for the goal.

Both goals were created by severe defensive lapses that could have easily been remedied by simple, proper communication. Nat Borchers is a man that is clearly capable of this, and he typically organizes the defense without much issue. But with only ten minutes gone from the clock, RSL had given up two goals — two very costly goals. The stinger is that they were uncharacteristic: This is a side renowned for its stinginess at the back and ability to retain concentration.

With a fit Olave and Beltran in the side, would things have been different? It’s hard to assume that those two goals would at least have come in such a way — but, as everything, you must play the hand you’re dealt. In ten minutes, an excuse for a defense let some very fine players capitalize on simple mistakes.

With Olave likely out for at least two matches, immediate improvement in communication and positional sense is necessary. If RSL can manage to keep out the goals, their offense can ply their trade without ten men behind the ball.

‘Till tomorrow.