When Is The Crew 3 Coming Out

A third-minute opportunity for Miguel Drupe with his back to goal inside the 6-g box, and a fifth-minute shot in front of an open net yielded nothing for the Coiffure on Sabbatum against D.C. United.

The scene was almost a carbon re-create of last week's scoreless depict against Sporting Kansas Metropolis. Until information technology wasn't.

Crew left back Pedro Santos put his laces through a complimentary kicking from virtually 22 yards out in the 28th minute and gave the Crew their first goal in an MLS game since March 20, and their starting time 1-0 pb since the flavor opener on Feb. 26. Before the half was over, Derrick Etienne Jr. finished inside the box to widen the atomic number 82 in an eventual three-0 win over D.C. United in front end of 19,402 at Lower.com Field.

Once the final whistle sounded, the Nordecke supporters' section permit off canisters of yellowish smoke and chanted their city's name with pride for the first time since March 12.

I goal, one result could modify things. That had been the MO for the Crew (three-3-three, 12 points) in their attempt to end a five-game winless streak in which they've failed to score a goal in 360 minutes of league play.

While scoring consistently volition keep to be an accent in the coming weeks, coach Caleb Porter and the unabridged lodge tin can take a sigh of relief.

"It's been a rough couple weeks in many means," Porter said. "For our group to stick together, go along fighting and we're back in the race, we're back in the thick of things. I'grand glad they get the reward with the result and some goals for their hard work and for sticking together."

The Crew were a bit fortunate not to exist down a goal. D.C. United forward Ola Kamara had a shot come squarely off the post and into the arms of goalkeeper Eloy Room. Viii minutes later on, James Igbekeme drew a foul shut to the tiptop of the box to set up a dangerous free kick to the left of the semicircle.

"In that location'due south some moments nosotros dodged a few bullets today," Porter said. "Information technology was a day where early we got a fiddling luck with the post. Those are things that don't go lost on me. But yes, pedro's goal was massive."

Normally this would exist a spot where all in attendance would rise in anticipation of another brilliant moment for star player Lucas Zelarayan, but he was non in the starting lineup for a second directly game due to knee inflammation. He entered in the 70th infinitesimal for forward Miguel Berry.

Columbus Crew midfielder Derrick Etienne (22) gets past D.C. United defender Brendan Hines-Ike (4) and scores a goal during the 1st half of their MLS game at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on April 30, 2022.

In his place, the Crew went with the next best shot taker from distance in Santos. He blistered the ball while all goalkeeper Jon Kempin could do was stare as it hit the dorsum of the net.

Every bit much as the first one might have taken some pressure level off their shoulders, the Coiffure knew only a win would fully turn the momentum of the season dorsum around. In the 43rd infinitesimal, Josh Williams and Etienne provided that moment.

Williams splashed a perfect pass over the elevation of the D.C. United defense onto the run of Etienne at the left corner of the box. He chested it down and hit the ball first fourth dimension, perfectly in stride to sneak it inside the far postal service for a two-0 lead.

Darlington Nagbe sealed the victory in the 75th infinitesimal with a spectacular goal on a volley atop the box off of an initial clearance by D.C. United on a corner kick.

Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) watches his shot score against D.C. United during the 2nd half of their MLS game at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on April 30, 2022.

Helm Jonathan Mensah disputed there was any proverbial weight lifted with the win, but the importance wasn't lost on the team.

"Weight? I don't remember there was a weight, but plain we knew this was coming," Mensah said. "We worked really hard in training, nosotros prepared for this game. Nosotros needed something to turn around the results that we've been getting lately."

D.C. United goalkeeper Jon Kempin (21) makes a save against Columbus Crew forward Miguel Berry (27) during the 1st half of their MLS game at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on April 30, 2022.

Though there were no goals against Kansas City in the previous game, Porter was adamant that his team had stopped the bleeding by catastrophe the losing streak, and the bespeak on the road was a turning point for the squad'due south confidence.

Santos' goal did just as much to give the Crew some life. The win felt a bit like an early-season salvation.

"This was an early-flavor exam, challenge, a lot of adversity," Porter said. "I thought the guys pulled out of it really well and really I recall nosotros grew stronger because of it."

Derrick Etienne Jr. gains confidence

The winger play was always going to make-or-break the Crew's power to score goals. They started off on a high early on in the season but hadn't been producing lately. Peradventure Etienne turned the corner with his goal in the 43rd infinitesimal.

Peradventure more any other role player on the Crew, Etienne plays a type of infectious swagger that drives his game. He's never shy of confidence in himself, but sometimes a player similar that needs a lift. Getting an splendid touch and a sublime finish might be a betoken people can await back on as the moment he found his game again.

There are withal moments where he tin practise more than in dangerous positions. He was consistently behind the D.C. United back line, but would either have an errant cantankerous with his weaker left foot or dribbled the ball out of bounds for a goal kick. Being more consistent with the ball in dangerous areas would take his game to another level.

"Derrick'due south a guy that he plays his best when he has a bit on his shoulder, when he has an edge," Porter said. "I was really happy tonight that even subsequently the miss he had early on in the game, he buries the next ane. I told him before the game yous need to play with that edge and something to testify. Like all players, coaches, we all become doubted, we all go questioned. He's had some criticism and ultimately it was great for him to score a goal."

Two straight clean sheets for the Crew

Columbus Crew midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) celebrates with Columbus Crew forward Pedro Santos (7) after scoring against D.C. United during the 2nd half of their MLS game at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio on April 30, 2022.

So many times this season — and last flavor — the Crew would be punished on the first goal they allowed. On Saturday, D.C. United created three big chances and only edged the Crew in the expected goals boxing — ane.40-one.33 — but the Crew were good enough to keep a null on the scoresheet.

Santos said shutting out a team for a 2d straight game is all most a new mindset.

"The last game confronting Kansas (City), nosotros talk near to get the clean sheet and take the opportunity if we accept it," he said. "And nosotros had a couple the last game. This game was exactly the same."

Key play

On more than a couple of occasions in the second one-half, right back Marlon Hairston was browbeaten down the flank by D.C. United wingback Brad Smith. He had dorsum-to-back crosses behind the Coiffure defence in the 61st and 63rd minutes. The first was saved by Room, and the second was booted over the bar by Julian Gressel from about 12 yards out.

Man of the lucifer

Pedro Santos: scored the opening goal and defended well on the left side of the Crew defense. He saved a shot from Gressel off the line in the 77th infinitesimal.

jmyers@dispatch.com

@_jcmyers