"I think we found the real Columbus Crew way of play, and it's fun."
Autumn in Columbus: A wonderful sports story of a team that rocketed from a crater.
In a workmanlike, efficient fashion, the Crew defeated lowly D.C. United 3-0 before an announced crowd of 20,o24 at Fertilizer Field Saturday afternoon. It was the Crew's final home game of the regular season, Fan Appreciation Day, when the gnomes finally showed. Took care of business, all around.
It took six months, but the gnomes finally reached Columbus.
A little over 24 hours later, on Sunday evening, Toronto was eliminated from the postseason with a loss in Atlanta – and the New York Red Bulls, after a dominant first half, were eliminated when Nashville stormed back for a 3-2 victory at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.
Supporters' Shield winners tend toward letdowns, but seeing Nashville simply flip a switch in the second half against the Red Bulls, it is clear the SCs are going to be a bear with home-field advantage at the Fairgrounds throughout the playoffs. It doesn't look like the Curse of the Shield will be in play this year.
But I digress.
The losses by TOFC and NYCFC on Sunday meant that the Crew had clinched a postseason position. I don't say "playoff spot" because they're not in a playoff spot, not yet. They are in eighth place, which is to say that they're in the 8-9 play-in game (or "wild card game" if you like) as things stand at the moment. But that could change.
There is one more gameday on the league schedule, this Saturday, Nov. 7. Decision Day. The Crew will play the Chicago Fire in Bridgeview at 4 p.m. EST. I think they call it SeatGeek Stadium, or something such like. As the NFL Bears are home against the Buccaneers on Nov. 8, Soldier Field is unavailable. (The new Fire soccer-specific stadium is under construction, but isn't due to open until 2028.)
But I digress.
Depending on what happens with Crew-Fire in Bridgeview Saturday, and what happens with Orlando (home vs. New England), Cincinnati (at Nashville) and Philadelphia (home vs. Toronto), the Crew could finish anywhere from ninth to sixth in the East.
The playoff format:
The play-in (or wild-card) game is No. 8 vs. No. 9. The first round of the playoffs is comprised of best-of-three series – No. 1 vs. 8/9 winner; No. 2 vs. No. 7; No. 3 vs. No. 6; and No. 4 vs. No. 5. The higher seeds have home-field advantage (they'll hosts Game 1 and Game 3 of these first-round series).
The standings:
Autumn in Columbus: A wonderful sports story
On Sept. 1, the Crew were in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, seven points behind the team holding the last play-in spot, with four teams to jump. They were 6-14-5. They were below .500 at home (5-6-2), and they were tied for the worst road record (1-8-3) in the league.
Within that crater was a roster that had been overhauled – nine new players came in, and nine left, during the summer transfer window. They were led by an interim coach, Laurent Courtois, who took over for a fired coach, Henrik Rydström, in mid-May. There was a feeling that GM Issa Tall had gone mad. "Fire Issa" was becoming a meme.
The Crew ultimately rocketed out of that crater. Since mid-September, they're 7-1-1 in all competitions with 22 goals for and eight against. They've won seven of their past eight league games, including the last six in a row – three on the road.
The Crew now have a full week to prepare for Chicago – and they haven't had six days off in a row for more than a month.
#Crew96 interim-not-interim coach Laurent Courtois warms up for practice this morning. Nice technique. #BrazilianJiu-jitsu
— Michael Arace (@michaelarace1.bsky.social) October 30, 2026 at 11:40 AM
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Courtois speaks quietly and carries a belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As July turned to August, and then to September, he whispered about how he loved coaching this team, how they just needed some time, how "roster maximization" was among the things he wanted to draw out of the chaos.
Lately, he has been talking about having 15 players to send out into any storm and, presumably this is what "roster maximization" means. The game against D.C., like many before it, was illustrative.
Attacking mid Brais Mendez, a big-ticket DP, rested a sore leg for a third consecutive game. He probably could've played, but Courtois has the patience (and the audacity) to wait. Veteran central midfielder Andre Gomes, who hasn't been 100%, probably could've played, too, but he was up at press-box level with DP striker Wessam Abou Ali (knee surgery in April, out for he season), veteran center back Rudy Camacho (torso, on the shelf since Oct. 10) and Mendez.
Courtois inserted Sekou Bangoura, coming off a red-card suspension, into the starting lineup and trusted Bangoura to manage his tackles (which hasn't been a given). He positioned Taha Habroune – who has been a revelation at box-to-box No. 8 – up higher, on a flank. He used all five of his substitutions – striker Josef Martinez, midfielder Tarun Karumanchi, outside back Andres Herrera, midfielder Lautaro Giaccone and center back Eric Bailly came in – in the 71st minute.
And the captain, Sean Zawadzki, played every minute, as he has done in every game this season.
“It's a testament to this team," Zawadzki said. "We're a very resilient group, and I think no matter what, when times get tough, I know this group is ready to go. And I think we saw that the last month of the season. We're going to put our head down, we're going to work, we're going to grind out results. You know, we can win in many different ways. You saw that during this little run we've had. Whether it's at (Cincinnati), you know, we had three shots, we score two goals. A game like Charlotte, we have 30 shots, we have 15 on target. So we've proven different ways to win games, and whatever's asked for us, we're willing to do it.”
There wasn't a hitch Saturday. The Crew showed the dangerous side of their offense. They also showed comfort in ceding possession – depending on matchups, they do this much more frequently than Wilfied Nancy ever did – and were confident in their ability to protect against counters, keep dangerous players at bay and defend their box. They're very cool about it all.
Michael Arace
Nearly without respite, the Crew retained control of the game, whether they had the ball or not. They did the same thing in a Hell is Real derby-darby in Cincinnati on Oct. 18, and in another road game, in Dallas Wednesday night. They are confident in depending on one another defensively and, if need be, they don't have to dominate the ball to have their way.
“By nature, D.C. scores goals in a manner that we have also shown issues (in responding to)," Courtois said. "You want to create the chances the way this group is used to playing, but it also can be really exposing because they live from transition and direct plays, especially in the box from long throws, etc. They can be really well organized and then transitioning be really hurtful. It was kind of a trap (game). Like I said, really pleased with how the guys managed both scenarios.”
Over the past nine games in all competitions, the Crew have averaged 2.4 goals and their keeper, Patrick Schulte, has posted five shutouts.
They don't care who scores. Next man up.
Disrespected Media is trying to get to Chicago to cover the Crew-Fire game on Decision Day, Saturday Nov. 7. Click the blue "Tip for travel" button to aid in getting me there. Three contributors, selected at random, will receive a DM T-shirt. If you're a business, you can contact me directly (lifeisarace8@gmail.com). Grazie. -- Arace
Against D.C., Zawadzki potted his first of the MLS season on a set piece when he head-brushed a service into the net in the 16th minute.
Right midfielder Anass Zaroury, who is emerging to be a true badass, bent an 18-yard shot from the top left of the box into the top right corner in the 41st minute. It was his second goal in league play, and it was nasty.
“Yeah, class – pure class," Courtois said. "(He) needs to be consistent and not allow himself to be a little bit too casual between the lines and (commit) cheap turnovers. His quality and work ethic are pure class.”
Attacking mid Santi Rodriguez, who had seven assists in his previous five games, was at the tip of a lethal-looking counter when he (essentially) forced an own goal in the 60th minute. Rodriguez, another new DP, feels like the guy who glues together everything Courtois wants to do. Selflessly.
“There's a good base," Courtois said. "This is a team. This shows cohesion and chemistry. Yes, everybody has individual characteristics, but for the most part, they have a (team) identity which is the most important thing.”
Central Midfielder Dylan Chambost had two assists. And he had a three-assist game last week. Tell me, Crew fans, did you see this coming from him? I did not. He has been unlocked.
“I think no matter who is playing, we have built something," Chambost said. "We are all pushing in the same direction, same way, and yeah, we play together. We try to play simple, to play together, to defend as well, but it was important to not concede today. It's important for (Patrick Schulte), for everyone. As you can see, we play with a lot of rotation. I think we found the real Columbus Crew way of play, and it's fun.”
Schulte faced a penalty kick in the first half. He wouldn't hand the ball over to D.C.'s Keisuke Kurokowa, saying, "You don't want this ball." (Credit: Brian Hedger of the Dispatch for getting the story from Schulte). As the ball was placed on the dot, Schulte barked at Kurokawa again, "You don't want this." Schulte was absolutely fooled on the shot – he dove one way, and the shot went the other – but Kurokawa hooked it wide of the right post.
It's a lot of fun right now. There is chance, too, that it can linger for a while.
Right: Anass Zaroury scored on a wicked bender inside the right post. Middle: Captain Sean Zawadzki -- you can see him poking out there, like a prow, in front of the pack -- scored on a glancing header. Right: Santi Rodriguez, at the end of a quick counter, created enough chaos to force an own goal.
