PBP: 2021 Match Day #27: Union v. Columbus Crew, October 3, 2021 p/d/p

Maybe the Crew will be emotionally depleted after celebrating their Campeones Cup victory last night? I’d like to see some new Union faces on the field, especially since this will be the 3rd game in about a week. Davo or Bueno?

 

I like this thought but at the end of the day I'm at:

Just win baby!

 

You know the lineup already:

Santos Kasper
Gazdag
Montiero Bedoya
Flach
Wagner Glesnes Elliot Mbaizo
Blake

Why would Curtin change now? I'd love to see him mix it up but baring an undisclosed injury or him having a psychotic break he's going with this lineup

 

Did not realize when I posted this that Mbaizo's father had passed away and he was going to go home this week. Condolences to him.

Powell over Harriel most likely.

 

Surprisingly comfortable win today. Even with playing down a man for the last 30 or so minutes.

 

Those comfortable wins don’t come often for the Union, so that was pretty enjoyable!

 

I was not comfortable down a man with Columbus about to take a PK.

I was very comfortable as we were playing out the clock at the end of the game.

I was astounded that Columbus just stopped competing on that third goal with only minutes to go:

Union going to the corner to kill clock, Columbus does not challenge the ball, we have time to wait for Union player in an offside position to come back,

then take time to chip the ball into the corner AND chase down his own chip,

crosses the ball to Flach who has all the time in the world to bring the ball down, take another touch and there is no Columbus player within 5 yards of him when he gets the shot off

 

I didn't know that Elliot had free kicks from distance in his locker. That was a pleasant surprise.

 

Our two best free kick takers are our starting CBs.

 

When Glesnes was standing behind the ball with Elliott on that kick, I assumed Glesneswas going to take it. I was surprised when he ran into the box and left Elliot there alone to take the kick. I'm glad we converted the goal, but I thought the Columbus goalie could have done better with it.

 

I feel like it hit a leg on the way in but none of the angles I saw gave a clear picture of it. It was not a great kick and we got lucky there. Curtin said as much on his interview going into halftime.

 

I wouldn't necessarily say that. The Union just have more options when taking Free Kicks now. They have Elliot and Glesnes who can take the long range ones. Wagner, Monteiro and Gazdag can take the ones closer to goal.