Cucho Hernandez has been pivotal for the Columbus Crew, scoring nine goals in the last two games, making them a significant challenge for Nashville SC on Wednesday.
The Crew (9-3-6, 33 points) dominated Sporting Kansas City 4-0 on June 22 with three goals from Hernandez and followed up with a 5-1 win over New England, where Hernandez contributed a goal and two assists. Despite Hernandez leading the team with 10 goals in 13 matches, other players also scored in the win against the Revolution.
“His impact is enormous,” Crew midfielder Max Arfsten said. “He not only scores but also draws a lot of attention, which creates opportunities for others.” Arfsten capitalized on this by scoring the Crew’s second goal from 18 yards out, just before halftime.
However, the fourth goal—a header by Rudy Camacho off a Diego Rossi corner—should be a concern for Nashville (6-6-8, 26 points), especially after they conceded two goals from set pieces in a 2-1 loss to Inter Miami on Saturday.
“We need to address and improve on our set-piece defense,” Nashville midfielder Amar Sejdic acknowledged. Nashville’s deficit persisted until Hany Mukhtar scored in the 73rd minute, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide. “We should have capitalized on our scoring opportunities in the first half,” said Nashville interim coach Rumba Munthali.
The Crew’s attacking trio, including Hernandez, Rossi, and Christian Ramirez, has been exceptional. Rossi scored and provided two assists, while Ramirez added two assists in the victory over New England. Crew coach Wilfried Nancy praised their chemistry. “They have developed a strong connection that I can’t fully coach,” Nancy noted. “It’s a valuable asset for me.”
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