League-leading defense helps push Columbus Crew up MLS Eastern Conference standings
Despite playing fewer games than a majority of MLS teams this season, the Crew have managed to sneak up the Eastern Conference standings. Columbus enters Saturday's game against Toronto FC ranked third in the conference and has the league's top defense.
The Crew picked up their third straight victory Wednesday, defeating Nashville SC 2-0 to improve to 10-3-6. Columbus has 36 points in 19 games. Most MLS teams have played 21 games with some, including league-leading Inter Miami, playing 22.
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Having fewer games due to rescheduling two because of the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, Columbus has picked up three points in every MLS game since May 15 except against Miami on June 19.
The defense has been a leading reason for the success, allowing only seven goals in their past eight games. Columbus has given up a league-low 18 goals, and the center backs have even gotten in on scoring, with Rudy Camacho and Steven Moreira netting a goal in Columbus' 5-1 win over New England Revolution.
"I have to be smart," Moreira said. "I know I love to attack, but some games, like Nashville, I know that they cross a lot and they put the ball behind. So, I have to be more smart and when we score goals, that's for me, more easy. In my mind, I can say, 'OK, I can stay (back) now and don't need to go (forward) all the time.'"
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The Crew have had a rotation of five players appear at center back, but the rotation is expected to become more limited between four players with Sean Zawadzki taking over a more solidified role at center midfield.
Moreira, who has appeared in 18 MLS games at center back this season, has displayed that he has the ability to score, recording his first goal against Portland on April 20. Recently named to the MLS All-Star roster for the first time in his career, Moreira wants to continue contributing offensively, but after conceding what he considered "too many goals" last season, the 29-year-old has a bigger, overall plan
"If I can score five goals, then I'll be happy, with more assists," Moreira said. "That's my challenge in my mind to score and give assists, but if we're the best defense this year, I'm going to be very happy."
An update on Jacen Russell-Rowe with the Canadian national team at Cope America
It has been more than a month since the last time forward Jacen Russell-Rowe wore a Crew uniform.
Russell-Rowe made his latest appearance for Columbus on June 1 in the Champions Cup final against CF Pachua as a substitute in the second half. Following that match, Russell-Rowe was called up for international duty with the Canadian national team and made its Copa America roster.
Canada advanced to the semifinals with a victory over Venezuela on Friday, so Russell-Rowe will miss the Crew's game against Toronto and could be unavailable for the Los Angeles FC game on July 13 if Canada advances to the final.
Before Copa America, Russell-Rowe was third in scoring for the Crew, with five goals in 16 matches. During his time with Canada's national team, the 21-year-old has recorded only five minutes as a substitute in the first match of the tournament.
"I don't know how he's going to be coming back without a month of experience," said Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said. "But the idea is to discuss with the player and to understand and know what they did in their camp, and after that, for the rest of the team and also for the best of the players, we try to have a plan."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew lead MLS in defense going into Toronto FC match
