Depth, Dominance, and Draws: Columbus Crew’s Early Season Resilience Shows Promise Amid Frustration

In a league where consistency is hard to come by, the Columbus Crew have started the 2025 MLS season as one of the most resilient and cohesive sides—despite facing adversity that would have crippled many. Saturday night’s 0-0 draw against New York City FC may not have yielded three points, but it delivered a convincing narrative: this team has depth, discipline, and an unwavering identity under head coach Wilfried Nancy.

The Crew remain undefeated through five league matches, a feat made more impressive by the sheer number of absences in the squad. With eight key players sidelined due to international duty, injuries, or suspension, Nancy was left with just seven substitutes, only one of whom had played more than a single MLS minute for Columbus prior to kickoff. And yet, the Crew dominated from start to finish.

A Statement of Control, Not of Scorelines

Statistically, this was one of the most lopsided scoreless draws you’ll see. Columbus controlled 76% of possession, registered 23 shots to NYCFC’s 5, and prevented the visitors from recording a single shot on target. On another night, this could’ve been a rout. Instead, it ended in frustration—a missed opportunity, but not without its silver linings.

Nancy, never one to dwell on results alone, put the emphasis squarely on performance. “I’m not here to analyze the outcome because the outcome is the outcome,” he said postgame. “The consistency that we’ve had since the beginning, this is the message. The more we stay like that, the more the wins will come.”

And he’s not wrong. From the outside, a scoreless draw at home might seem underwhelming, but from within, this was a testament to tactical structure, effort, and adaptability—particularly given the number of new and returning faces on the pitch.

Emerging Names and Emotional Returns

One of the night’s highlights was the return of veteran goalkeeper Evan Bush, starting his first match in nearly a year after a long injury layoff. At 37, Bush showed calmness and leadership, anchoring the backline and preserving the clean sheet with poise. “There was a range of emotions,” Bush admitted. “But once I got on the field, it felt kind of like riding a bike again.”

His return was complemented by a pair of notable debuts. Center back Cesar Ruvalcaba, a second-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft, made a statement in his first start with a 95% pass completion rate across 73 composed minutes. At just 17 years old, Tristan Brown came on as his replacement, becoming the club’s second-youngest debutant. Eighteen-year-old Cole Mrowka also saw action, showing his quality as a passer in tight midfield spaces—particularly evident in a disallowed goal where his creative involvement nearly broke the deadlock.

This infusion of youth, paired with Bush’s experience, signals a healthy evolution within the squad. Nancy’s ability to seamlessly integrate new players speaks volumes about his coaching philosophy and the depth of talent Columbus has cultivated.

Tactical Frustration Meets Stubborn Resistance

Despite their dominance, Columbus ran into a familiar wall: a disciplined, deep-sitting NYCFC side that opted for survival over ambition. With 10 men often behind the ball, New York conceded possession and space, daring the Crew to find a needle in a haystack.

AZ Jackson was the tip of the spear for much of the night, probing and creating with pace and intent. His best look came in the 38th minute with a curling attempt that grazed the frame, and he remained a thorn in New York’s side throughout. Dylan Chambost, Yevhen Cheberko, and Jacen Russell-Rowe each had moments that could have been match-winners, but the finishing touch was lacking.

Perhaps the most deflating moment came in the 84th minute, when Russell-Rowe’s apparent goal was wiped away by VAR after it was determined DeJuan Jones had been in an offside position before keeping the ball in play. It encapsulated the night: near perfect execution, just inches away from reward.

Silver Linings and a Path Forward

While the Crew have now drawn three straight matches, they’ve maintained their unbeaten status and shown no signs of tactical decay. If anything, the squad is proving its system can hold firm under pressure—even without its usual stars.

With no more Concacaf Champions Cup fixtures clogging the calendar, Nancy and his staff will now have more time to focus on league matches. That time will be valuable. Columbus has already shown flashes of brilliance, but adding clinical edge to their finishing will be the key to turning draws into wins.

Midfielder AZ Jackson summed it up best: “We’re winners. We’re all competitive... It’s hard to stay consistent [in MLS]. But we’re still pushing to even get better. Tonight, you can see we’ve grown.”

Conclusion: A Squad Built to Endure

In many ways, this early stretch of the 2025 season has revealed more about the Columbus Crew than any goal-fest could. It’s easy to shine when your stars are aligned and the bench is full of familiar faces. It’s harder—much harder—to maintain structure, intensity, and belief when youth and experience are cobbled together in the face of adversity.

Yet, that’s exactly what Columbus is doing.

The frustration of another draw will linger, but the signs are overwhelmingly positive. This is a team with depth. This is a club with a defined identity. And once the finishing improves, the Crew won’t just be undefeated—they’ll be undeniable.