Columbus Crew without Aidan Morris for Champions Cup match vs Tigres
Four matches, three red cards.
Including CONCACAF Champions Cup play, the Crew lead MLS teams in red cards this season, with all three violations occurring over the span of their previous four matches.
The latest offense came against Cucho Hernandez in his return Saturday after missing two games due to "team policy." Facing D.C. United at Lower.com Field, Hernandez was hit with a red card for violent conduct after seemingly kicking Christopher McVev while he stepped over the Crew striker, who was grounded on his back.
"It's a tough one because we can always debate with the red cards," Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said.
Prior to the Hernandez incident, Derrick Jones was given a red card following a foul in which Nancy believed was a "soccer foul," in the Charlotte FC road match on March 23. Aidan Morris received a red against Tigres in the first leg of the Champions Cup quarterfinals last Tuesday after racking up two yellows.
The red card violations have amounted to 92 minutes, without accounting for stoppage time, in which Columbus has had 10 men on the field. The three matches resulted in a loss and two draws for the Crew.
More Columbus Crew news: Arace: If you are a Crew fan, you wonder where is Juan Camilo Hernandez Suarez
"They have the composure to finish the game," Nancy said. "We have the red card, yes, but they have the composure to finish the game and to come back, and this is the most important."
In the matches Columbus has received red cards, opponents have totaled more fouls overall. The Crew have suffered 62 fouls compared to the 29 they've been charged with.
The Morris red card has left him ineligible for the Crew's second-leg match against Tigres on Tuesday night. The midfielder has played a role in five goals this season, scoring two of his own and assisting in three.
"Big games like that, you always want to be a part of those," Morris said. "But I think I'll have an important role as well. Just keep the team ready to go, helping in whatever way I can."
Tiebreaking Crew vs Tigres match
To the semifinals of the Champions Cup, which would be the furthest the Crew have gone in tournament history, they have to defeat Tigres or record a draw in which they score at least two goals.
With the series tied at 1-1 following the match at Lower.com Field, Columbus got a taste of how difficult it was to get past the back line of the opposition from Liga MX. Of the Crew's 16 shots in the first game, eight were blocked.
"The second game we're going to have to be smart," Nancy said. "The idea is to focus on the task. We're going to prepare something and try to score the goals that we need. We'll see, the idea is we go there to try to achieve something."
The Crew held Tigres to four shots on goal compared to the six they had during the first match. According to defender Steven Moreira, their opponent's opportunities have all been high in quality.
"Tigres technically is very quick, very good," Moreira said. "Especially the right winger's (Diego Lainez) left foot, honestly, it's very, very good."
Rudy Camacho, a regular fixture in the Crew back line, has been missing in action since the Charlotte match, where he suffered a groin injury. Nancy confirmed the center back made the trip to Mexico, after returning to training with the team last week, but Camacho's availability against Tigres is unknown.
Kickoff in Monterrey for the Crew-Tigres match is set for 8:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Get more Columbus Crew content by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew will face Tigres in CONCACAF play without Aidan Morris
