Columbus faces setback in playoff hunt

It was quite a week for the Crew this last week and they now face more adversity than they've had all season, which is really saying something. It all started last Wednesday in New York when they held a 2-1 lead in the 60th minute against NYCFC in a pivotal matchup as both teams fight for playoff positioning. New York then scored in the 73rd minute to draw even, which grabbing a point for the Crew in an important away match would still have been beneficial. Only to concede in the fourth minute of stoppage time (94th minute) to drop all the points. Then came a somewhat soft matchup with a bad Toronto team at home with nothing to play for. A lively environment awaited as the home fans were geared up for the first home game in a month. Not only did the Crew drop the 1-0 lead they gained early to end in a 1-1 draw, but they also lost their already prolific finisher and seemingly only offensive threat left About Ali to what seems to be an ankle injury. Without Diego Rossi or Abou Ali the offense looked completely lost and failed to provide any real threat the remainder of the game Saturday. Now Columbus sits eighth in the East in the wild card game spot, but that all seems moot as their success even if they made the post-season would be directly tied to the health of their two best attackers. Below are three topics of note as the season winds down.

Status of Abou Ali and Diego Rossi

Rossi has a much better chance at playing in the crucial game against current ninth place team Chicago at Soldier field this coming Saturday. He injured his hamstring in the wild game in Atanta on September 13 and it was originally diagnosed as a 2-4 week injury. Hamstring injury recovery is a tough one to gague however and there's no telling if he'll be available for Saturday's game, but hopefully the game on October 4 is circled for his return. Regarding Abou Ali? There's been no specific word as of yet as to the severity of the injury, judging by his reaction on the field after the injury it looks likely it's a multi-week injury. There's no confirmation or update on his inury as of this writing, I'm just judging by his reaction after trying to play through it. Even if he does return quickly ankle injuries also linger and severely hamper a player's ability to move on the pitch, especially for an attacker. I can't imagine either one of these players playing Saturday which will be a huge blow to the offensive output in what seems to be a game where getting points is mandatory if the playoffs remain the ambition.

What's at stake on Saturday in Chicago?

Columbus sits eighth right now in the wild card game. Chicago sits ninth which is the last playoff spot. Chicago is five points behind the Crew but does have a game in hand (which looks to be a game against Inter Miami on Tuesday, September 30). If Columbus drops this game to the Fire they would get three points back with a potential to leap frog the Crew in the standings in their game on the following Tuesday. That being said all Columbus needs to do is grab a point on Saturday and it'll go a long way in cementing them at least a chance to host the wild card game at home. While the Crew are only three points back of third place in the East (Charlotte) it would be a tall order for a team that is now missing two players who have scored six of the team's last eight goals. It appears where they're likely headed now is the opportunity to host the wild card game against either Chicago again or the Red Bulls presumably.

End of season Prospects?

There is no doubt this season was set to be a transition type of season given the players that left before it started. They've fought admirably and have always continued to played hard for coach Nancy which is all you can really ask out of your club. Predictably there were lulls in the season and their offensive production has been down significantly, but that was to be expected. If Rossi and Abou Ali were able to get fully healthy by the time the playoffs start (October 22 is the wild card game) then it would give the team a huge boost in what they can still achieve, which in my opinion they could still contend for the cup. Until then however, step one is making the playoffs which their recent form has shown that's not a guarantee. This can certainly change with a result on Saturday as they could effectively secure a spot with a win or maybe even a draw. There's a lot left to play for and with only three games left each one should be treated as a playoff game now.

Overall, Columbus still has a chance to show people they are the class of the East and belong in contention. Although the recent results and how those results have come to fruition does not necessarily instill a ton of confidence, coach Nancy is still here. So long as he remains the leader this team has a fighting chance. With one month before the playoffs would begin, it'll be vital for Rossi and Abou Ali to attack rehab and work to get back as soon as they're ready. If their injuries do linger that could create a big mountain to climb and a level of adversity offensively I'm unsure this team could overcome. Saturday is a huge game and I'm hopeful this team will be up for it and punch above their weight these last few games in spite of the injuries just as they did in their 2020 cup championship game overcoming the absence of captain Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos.