MLS All-Star Game: 4 best Columbus Crew All-Star moments from Lower.com Field
In front of a Columbus crowd for the first time since 2005, the MLS All-Star Game took place at Lower.com Field on Wednesday. And despite the MLS All-Stars being defeated by the Liga MX All-Stars 4-1, Crew players were able to create some highlights.
The Crew were represented by coach Wilfried Nancy and a club record-tying five players. The inclusion of Cucho Hernandez, Diego Rossi, Darlington Nagbe, Steven Moreira and Rudy Camacho marked the most players any club this year.
"They work every day to be good," Nancy said. "And this is simply the reward of what they did, and good for them."
Replay: Liga MX easily handles MLS in 2024 MLS All-Star Game
Here are the top Crew moments from game:
Diego Rossi-Cucho Hernandez connection on display at MLS All-Star Game
It is a play that Crew fans have seen many times - Rossi passing the ball to Hernandez and the striker scoring a goal.
The Rossi-Hernandez connection put together the MLS team's lone goal, which came at the 17-minute mark.
Rossi was running up field after beating CF Pachuca's Bryan Gonzalez, allowing the Crew forward to find a path to send Hernandez a pass. Hernandez was easily able to complete the play and score, which led to a sliding celebration into Liga MX's goal.
"It was really, really good," Rossi said. "We know each other, we know how we play, the movements. (In All-Star) we did it again in a different game, a special game."
Columbus Crew in MLS All-Star: Cucho Hernandez nails bicycle kick during MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Lower.com Field
FC Cincinnati's Luciano Acosta hands off ball to Cucho Hernandez ahead of the penalty kick attempt that was never taken
The scene was set. The game officials had just signaled that a Liga MX player had committed a handball within the team's own box, which would give the MLS team, specifically Hernandez, a penalty kick attempt.
What could have been a crowd-electrifying moment if Hernandez took the penalty kick never happened due to the violation being overturned after a VAR review.
But what did happen before the call was overturned was that FC Cincinnati midfielder and Crew rival Luciano Acosta seemingly giving Hernandez the go-ahead to take the penalty kick, a sight that excited the Columbus crowd. After the game, it was revealed that Hernandez taking the penalty was always the plan.
"Coach (Nancy) told me before the game that if there was a penalty, I take it," Hernandez said. "But this referee decision, you cannot do something about that."
Steven Moreira makes big stop against CF Pachuca's Salomon Rondon
The last time a Columbus player was on the same field with players from Pachuca was the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, a match the Crew lost 3-0 on the road while a majority of the team was suffering from food poisoning.
"Of course .... you're still mad," Moreira said. "You're still mad when you lose a final, and now you're playing against them. But that's OK. I hope we're going to go again."
Moreira was given a small moment of redemption in the second half Wednesday during a one-on-one play against Salomon Rondon, who scored two of Pachuca's three goals in the Champions Cup final. Rondon looked to be close to scoring for Liga MX when Moreira sped up and made the stop by stealing the ball from under Rondon's legs.
Darlington Nagbe given overwhelming reception by Lower.com Field crowd as he entered the MLS All-Star Game
As the game continued, fans at Lower.com Field made known their desire to see Nagbe enter his third MLS All-Star Game. Chants of "We want Nagbe" rang through the stands midway through the second half, and Nancy gave the fans what they wanted by substituting him into the game at the 66-minute mark.
"He (Nagbe) deserves a lot," Moreira said. "Like I said when I came here, I told him straight that he can go play in Europe all the time. But he wants to stay here, for MLS, for the league. So, for me, this is a big sign. He deserves this moment, especially here at home."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew best moments at 2024 MLS All-Star Game
