COLUMBUS, Ohio – When the
Columbus Crew SC
offense is humming, it’s likely because
Federico Higuain
is in rhythm.
The Argentine DP was the star for Columbus yet again on Saturday night, helping to set up the team’s first goal and scoring their second in a
2-0 home win over the New England Revolution
.
The game was far from an aberration from Higuain, who has followed up a disappointing 2016 season with a vintage start to 2017, scoring three goals and adding four assists to play an instrumental role in Columbus' hot spring.
Higuain’s coaches and teammates are well aware of the form of their DP, and are often left hunting for words to describe him.
Head Coach Gregg Berhalter said, “He’s got a gift."
Winger
Justin Meram
could only shake his head and add, “That guy’s special, man,” after the win.
Midfielder
Wil Trapp
, noting the “little tricks and flicks” that creep into Higuain’s game when he’s feeling confident, said that “It’s hard, at times, to not just be in awe of some of the things he does."
Berhalter’s common refrain is that his DP’s game is about much more than goals and assists, and Meram agreed.
“When he’s on at another level, which is most of the time, it opens space for me,” the winger said. “When people talk about my success, they don’t realize how much he does for me, and that doesn’t come on the stat sheet. There are so many times he has two or three guys that are stepping to him, which leaves me open in a pocket.”
Higuain’s 53rd-minute goal was a first-touch rocket that conjured up images of his brother Gonzalo’s finish for Juventus in the UEFA Champions League this week. But Berhalter said he preferred his Higuain’s strike.
“It was a great finish – almost reminiscent of what his brother did, running into space to finish,” Berhalter said. “I think (Higuain’s) was a little better, though.”
Berhalter had to wait until Higuain made it to the locker room to congratulate his playmaker, however, after Berhallter was ejected by referee Mark Geiger in the 78th minute. The Crew SC boss took exception to a clothesline challenge on
Niko Hansen
by New England’s
Je-Vaughn Watson
, who was only shown a yellow card.
“I think fouls like that have no business in soccer; I don’t think it was a soccer play,” Berhalter said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how video review looks at this play, because it was unacceptable in my eyes and it endangered the safety of one of my players.”
Geiger said after the match that the challenge “did not rise to the level of a red card by endangering the safety of the opponent or using excessive force,” and ejected Berhalter for kicking a ball in protest.
But for Berhalter’s players, the furious response from the coach was a good reminder that he has their backs.
“We always want to keep our cool," Trapp said, but it’s good to see the fire sometimes."
