Matchday 21: Columbus picks things up immediately, Seattle can't buy a goal, and more

 

Sigal, Jonathan

Jun. 25, 2023, at 6:56 p.m.

The events of Matchday 21 are broken down game by game based on the opinions of MLS players and coaches.

Onwards:

Nashville SC loses to Columbus Crew 2-0.

Wilfried Nancy, the head coach of the Columbus Crew, frequently discusses his team's growth and progress, and this time was no exception following their 2-0 victory over Nashville SC at Lower.com Field.

Notably, Nancy compared this match to their 1-1 tie two weekends ago at Yankee Stadium. They had let Gabriel Segal to tie the score for New York City FC in the 94th minute, preventing the Crew from winning on the road. Then, on Saturday, Max Arfsten caused an own goal in the 95th minute to increase Columbus' lead and extend their winning streak to five games (4W-0L-1D).

Those minor details and moments could be forgotten in the season's grind. They stand out to Nancy and are important to consider.

"We work on momentum," Nancy said. What does that signify then? It implies that we enjoy performing workouts in which goals are occasionally scored. As a result, you must manage the remaining game or activity for five or six minutes, and you must be better at determining whether to defend or attack. We attempt to replicate this type of circumstance, but ultimately we are unable to replicate the mental component. There were people, there were admirers, and there are feelings.

"It's not the same, but we do our best to mimic this type of circumstance. The best way for them to learn is through seeing firsthand what happened versus New York City FC yesterday. Nowadays, consistency is key.

Finding that consistency might mean the difference between making the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and sitting at home, as Columbus supporters all too well know thanks to 2022's late-game defensive mistakes.

Nashville is recovering after a week with two losses away from GEODIS Park. They are now third in the East, but Walker Zimmerman advises against raising any red flags (and I tend to agree):