After leading the Supporters’ Shield race for much of the 2020 season, Columbus Crew SC find themselves trailing Toronto FC by six points with a game in hand.
Their efforts to close the gap begin on Wednesday night when traveling to face Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati (7:30 pm ET | TV & streaming info). And, according to Porter, there needs to be an expectation of getting three points.
Porter simply glances at the standings and sees an FC Cincinnati side that’s struggling – only D.C. United sits below them in the league standings – and knows only a win will suffice.
“Our mindset has been to fight for the top, our mindset has been to win every game and not hope to win but expect to win,” Porter said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’ve had some good results against some very good teams, but, yes, if we want to be getting home games in the playoffs, if we want to be fighting for the top, then we have to take care of business against the teams that are below us and we have to keep hunting the teams that are above us.”
Watch: How the Hell is Real rivalry was born
The Crew are stuck in a 0W-2L-1D stretch, and last weekend saw their match against fellow Eastern Conference contenders Orlando City SC postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Now, facing the Orange and Blue could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Columbus are 2W-0L-1D against head coach Jaap Stam's side this season, winning twice by a combined 7-0 scoreline. Their one draw, a 0-0 result Aug. 29 at Nippert Stadium, involved a low block they couldn’t break down.
“I think what the guys are thinking about is that last game that we had on the road that we drew, that we weren’t happy about or satisfied with it,” Porter said. “The guys have a chance now to go back to that stadium. I’m not a big lover or revenge or makeup games. You lose a game you lose a game, simple as that.
“But we have a chance to go back there and get a win, which we didn't last time we were there. The guys are locked in. They knew it’s an important game, a really important game and I think we’ll have a very good performance. I feel good about it.”
As for Stam’s charges, they’ve lost four straight and haven’t scored in 455 minutes. It’s fair to call them a work in progress, an element Stam spoke to ahead of the rivalry matchup.
Highlights: Columbus 3, Cincinnati 0 (Sept. 6, 2020)
The former Dutch national team center back referenced how Columbus built their roster over several transfer windows into one where they’re two deep at every positioning, weathering injuries most notably to midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Lucas Zelarayan. That’s territory he hopes FC Cincinnati reaches, in time.
“You can see as well with other teams like Toronto, like New York, like Minnesota, like Columubs, like Kansas that we’re going to be playing, all these teams have made transfers of ... over five, six, seven million,” Stam said. “That tells you about where their club is at and what they can do to eventually build out a team. That’s what we’re trying to do as well eventually, and that’s how it goes.
“Within the roster that we have, we’re happy of course with these players, but I think every team and every manager is always looking to add certain ability to the roster of players. That’s how you eventually develop or create your team, your way of playing. If you can do that, then you eventually you get to certain results and being consistent to stay up in the top of the table."
For now, FC Cincinnati will look to record their first MLS victory against Columbus. They've fallen short in six prior attempts.
