614Sports: Crew put on a clinic Saturday on how NOT to start a game

Crew SC Was Lacking on the Day in So Cal

With the 2018 World Cup in Russia viewed as the primetime show right now with Major League Soccer (MLS) serving as the veritable matinee—that 95^th minute free kick stunner by Germany’s Toni Kroos against Sweden over the weekend was a beautiful moment for the beautiful game—Columbus Crew SC showcased a Bizarro World clinic on how not to start a game this past Saturday night in Los Angeles.

Crew SC was not at full-strength in a critical position against LAFC because goalkeeper Zack Steffen is recovering from a knee injury, but all the players on the pitch representing the original Black & Gold in MLS were flat-footed from the beginning.

A free kick strike by #23 Laurent Ciman gave LAFC a 1-nil lead in the 4^th minute, which was doubled just four minutes later when LAFC’s #99 Adama Diomandé took advantage of lackadaisical defending by Crew SC.

That 2-nil score held for 84 more minutes, giving Columbus its second 2-nil loss in a row as part of a six-game winless streak including MLS and the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action. Trailing by two goals for nearly the entirety of the game, Crew SC managed only one shot on goal, which proved to be statistically paralyzing.

Columbus Crew SC (27 points) returns home to MAPFRE Stadium to host Real Salt Lake (23 points) this Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

#SaveTheCrew

Los Angeles just isn’t for everyone 🙄
RECAP | https://t.co/tNnwicozcp #CrewSC | #LAFCvCLB pic.twitter.com/AnQJpHYQtY
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) June 24, 2018

Ohio’s Machine Is Stuck in Reverse

Something just isn’t working as the Ohio Machine continues to be close in many of its losses without getting that sought after third victory cigar.

A 17-13 loss to the Denver Outlaws at Fortress Obetz this past Saturday keeps the Ohio Machine on the misery slide with six consecutive losses.

Despite a two-point goal by Ohio’s leading scorer #1 Marcus Holman with just over a minute left in regulation that brought Ohio within three goals of Denver, the Outlaws outlasted the Machine—and added one more goal with 24 seconds remaining that surely felt like salt in the wound—for the win.

The 2018 campaign has been rough for the Machine. However, Ohio’s Machine will look to course-correct against a team they blasted 25-13 in this season’s opener.

The Ohio Machine (2-7) travels to the northeast to play the New York Lizards (4-5) to complete its regular season series this Saturday at 7 p.m.

🎤 🎥 Hear from @BearEssentLax as he spoke after the game last night! pic.twitter.com/YZCwwuQe5g
— Ohio Machine (@MachineMLL) June 24, 2018

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