Columbus Crew avoid home loss with late Aidan Morris goal, finishing 1-1 vs D.C. United
Brianna Mac Kay
It was far from an ideal return for Crew striker Cucho Hernandez.
After missing the past two games due to "team policy," Hernandez did little to help Columbus on the offensive end in its 1-1 draw against D.C. United on Saturday night. To make matters worse, he was handed a red card in the 75th minute due to violent conduct.
"Yeah, Cucho got a red card," Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said. "He wanted to do well, he did his game, he did a good game ... this is something that could happen."
Instead, it was Aidan Morris who kept the Crew from recording their first loss at home this season with a goal in the 87th minute.
Columbus took eight shot attempts, three on goal, before Morris connected with the back of the net. Far above the top-left of D.C. United's box, the midfielder took a long shot that went to the right of goalkeeper Alex Bono.
"I didn't think they had great pressure on the ball," Morris said. "They didn't step out to the box fast enough, so I was able to just take my time, pick my head up and have a nice, clean stroke."
Prior to that, Columbus' offense had looked fairly punchless, and the chances of rallying from down a goal seemed bleak. Nancy felt the team struggled with "tactical flexibility" facing United's four-man backline.
Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte recorded two save before United attacker Christian Benteke scored at the 61-minute mark. From the center of the box, Benteke found a pass from midfielder Jared Stroud to take an 1-0 lead.
"The goal that they scored, the ball was supposed to go out," Nancy said. "It hit the back of one player, but it was there at the right moment."
Throughout the match, D.C. maintained an aggressive and physical style of play, recording 19 fouls compared to the Crew's seven.
Before being ejected from the match, Hernandez took two shots, none on goal, and had a 61.1% accurate pass rating on 22 passes. The striker will be ineligible for next Saturday's road game against Real Salt Lake unless the club successfully challenges the red card.
Hernandez declined to speak following the match.
This also marked the first start for Will Sands following his return from a season-ending ACL injury last April.
"I told him two days ago he would start," Nancy said. "I was happy to see him on the pitch, he showed his energy, he has a lot of energy. After that, obviously he could have been better in certain things, in terms of decision making, but I was happy to see that he was able to come back on the pitch and give us the speed that he has."
Playing left wingback, Sands had an opportunity to get Columbus on the board midway through the scoreless first half. Crashing towards the D.C. goal, teammate Max Arfsten sent a cross in his direction that would have provided a clear header opportunity. Bono cut off the pass before the ball could get to Sands.
Columbus will head on the road to face Tigres in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 9. The series is currently tied 1-1, and the Crew will be without Morris, as he received a red card in the first leg match.