COLUMBUS — A month ago, the Columbus Crew looked like a team heading toward a disappointing finish to the season. Now, after Saturday's 4-2 victory over Toronto FC, the Crew have won three consecutive matches and five of their last six, putting themselves firmly back into the playoff conversation.
The turnaround couldn't have come at a better time. With just three matches remaining, Columbus has climbed to 38 points, one behind the New York Red Bulls for the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot.
More importantly, the Crew are finally playing with some consistency. The offense has found its rhythm, players are contributing from different positions, and Columbus is beginning to look like a team capable of making a postseason run.
Saturday's performance was another example. Gonzalo Tapia opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Malte Amundsen added two goals, and Brooks Lennon made it 4-0 before the hour mark. Dylan Chambost was particularly effective, recording three assists and helping create opportunities throughout the afternoon.
Amundsen's performance was very encouraging. The defender scored twice in an MLS match for the first time in his career, demonstrating the kind of attacking contributions that make Columbus difficult to defend when its offense is working properly.
However, what happened after the Crew built their four-goal lead should also serve as a warning.
Toronto scored in the 69th minute, and Sekou Bangoura received his second yellow card just one minute later, leaving Columbus to finish the match with 10 men. Toronto added another goal in the 81st minute and continued pressing, turning what had been a comfortable victory into a more stressful finish than necessary.
It's difficult to criticize a team too much after a 4-2 win, especially considering where Columbus was just a few weeks ago. But discipline and the ability to close out matches become even more important when every point could determine whether a team reaches the playoffs.
The Crew have clearly improved, and their recent results are encouraging. Five wins in six matches represent a substantial turnaround for a team that struggled to find consistency through much of the season.
Still, Columbus hasn't secured a playoff spot. Saturday's victory kept the Crew in contention, but New York's win over Inter Miami prevented them from moving into the final postseason position.
With a road match against FC Dallas on Wednesday and a home match against D.C. United on Saturday, Columbus has two huge opportunities to continue its climb. The Crew have finally started playing their best soccer of the season, but they'll need to maintain that level if they want to complete their late-season comeback.
