The Seattle Sounders will host the Columbus Crew on Sunday at 2 PM. To help give us some insight into the Crew, we asked Tyler Fisher of Massive Report to give us a little scouting report.
Notable injuries
Rudy Camacho (Thigh) is out. Camacho has yet to appear this season, but Wilfried Nancy has stated that a more concrete update on his injury will be provided soon. Malte Amundsen (Knee) is also out. Amundsen got injured in the Crew's 5-1 loss to Inter Miami and has been out since. Nicholas Hagen (Thigh) was injured while away with the Guatemalan national team, and he is also listed as out. Cesar Ruvalcaba (Ankle) is questionable, as he was injured during training, one assumes. Finally, Patrick Schulte (Torso) is ruled as questionable. Schulte was injured during warmups of the Crew’s 3-2 loss to Charlotte FC.
What kind of form has the team been in?
The Columbus Crew entered the international break on a six-game winless streak. With three games in June, the Crew were able to snap that streak and start a three-game unbeaten streak, outscoring their opponents 6-2 throughout the summer month.
Who are the key players we should be watching?
Darlington Nagbe is always a key player to watch. The Lakewood, Ohio native averages above a 94% passing accuracy every match and is the dictator of the midfield, with his holdup play.
Truth be told, he's scary but a good winger, and that's Lassi Lappalainen. Two games in a row, the Finnish winger has created two goals, being able to serve a low driven pass towards the center of the 18-yard box. Though he still has some growth, Lappalainen has speed and can get around an oppositions backline when given the opportunity.
Finally, Steven Moreira. Moreira is not afraid to get into the attack. He's scored while being in the attack before, and he'll do it again. Moreira will definitely surprise many, as it's not normal to see centerbacks push forward, let alone start a goalscoring opportunity in the final third. When given space, Moreira will take it.
What’s one thing you think opposing fans should know about your team?
Although our left and right center backs like to push forward, tracking back on defense is a bit of a challenge when the opposition throws numbers and speed forward. Leaving Yevhen Cheberko all alone is suspect due to free space in the flanks, but fool you not, Sean Zawadzki and Steven Moreira will hustle to close down a counter-attack.
