The Columbus Crew will be navigating the choppy waters of the MLS without an entire crew, with six players summoned to international shores. The club confirmed the absences of forward Cucho Hernández (Colombia), defenders Mohamed Farsi (Algeria) and Steven Moreira (Cape Verde), goalkeepers Nicholas Hagen (Guatemala) and Patrick Schulte (United States), with Crew 2 forward Chase Adams joining the United States Under-17 side for the bustling FIFA international window. The team's official website, Columbus Crew, announced these developments early today.
In practical terms, the Crew will temporarily forfeit their services, a notable hit as they prepare for an important match. This news arrives before an upcoming game, detailed by a local television station WBNS, which notes that these players will step away from their club commitments to don their national colors, a reality that sports teams across the globe often have to contend with during international play periods.
As if the team needed another hurdle, their Saturday face-off against the Seattle Sounders will be played minus the talents of these key players. According to NBC4i, the Crew's roster will be "shorthanded" during this fixture. The broadcaster adds that these absences align with international soccer activity, including World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches.
However, there's a silver lining. Expectations are set that the international stars will return for the Crew's simmering Sept. 14 'Hell is Real' derby against FC Cincinnati. The highly anticipated match will reunite the team at full strength, ready to throttle up their rivalry. Meanwhile, fans will turn their eyes globally, hoping their Crew members shine on the world stage and return without a scratch.
