Defense has been arguably the main strength of Columbus Crew SC on the young 2019 Major League Soccer season. The Black & Gold have conceded just four goals in six matches and ended the sixth week of the regular season with the second most efficient backline in the entire league, just behind the Seattle Sounders, which have three goals against in five games.
The Crew’s defensive success, however, defies one of the most popular sayings in soccer, which states that the best backlines are the ones which get continuity. For a number of reasons, including injuries and international call-ups, head coach Caleb Porter has been forced to use four different defensive lineups already.