



Stellar service

Other than Lucas Zelarayan, Luis Diaz had perhaps the most hype around him preseason, thanks to a stellar 13 games after joining the Crew last summer. Earning his first start of the season on the right wing Saturday night against the Seattle Sounders, Diaz showcased why he can be a difference-maker.

From the top right corner of the box in the 33rd minute, Diaz delivered a cross ahead of the Sounders’ defense and perfectly in line with Gyasi Zardes’ run to the back post for a goal. Diaz’s speed gives any opponent fits, but improvement in his crossing ability will make him even more of a weapon.

More than goals and assists

Zelarayan wasn’t credited with an assist on Zardes’ goal, but he was the reason Diaz even had the ball on his right foot to make the cross. With the ball on the left side of the field, Zelarayan cut toward the middle past a defender, then baited another to leave his position. That opened space for Artur, who then found Diaz. Before Diaz hit the cross, Zelarayan made a run to the near post, which drew a Seattle defender out of position and freed up Zardes on the back post.

Fair result

Crew coach Caleb Porter credited his team for finding a well-executed goal and the defense for closing out a game in which Seattle attempted 37 crosses. Still, he said he will demand more of his players moving forward because there was plenty to improve on.

"It’s never easy against the Seattle Sounders on the road," Porter said. "We got four points in two games and haven’t been beaten, but we have to be a lot better."

Awaiting Valenzuela

It was obvious how concerned Milton Valenzuela’s Crew teammates were when he was sitting on the field holding his right knee. Several players gathered around Valenzuela, trying to ensure him that he hadn’t reinjured the knee in which a torn ACL held him out the entire 2019 season.

The Argentine left back plays an essential role in every facet of the game and is largely considered one of the best at his position in MLS when healthy. The Crew will likely provide an update Tuesday after practice.

League view

Four points through two games against two teams that are considered to be in the top tier of championship contenders is a strong start to a promising season. The Crew now has back-to-back games in which it should be the favorite, against Real Salt Lake at home and Nashville SC on the road. Elsewhere in the league, the Crew’s season-opening opponent, New York City FC, lost to Toronto FC in a rematch of one of last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals. Atlanta United is the only 2-0-0 team in the East after its win over FC Cincinnati.

Quotable

Porter on his biggest takeaway from Saturday’s game: "We can play with anybody in the league. When we pass the ball, play our game and control games, press from the front and play as a team, we can play with anybody. We showed that (Saturday) for periods, but when we don’t play our game we’re going to be in an uncomfortable situation, defending deep like we were for far too long. I thought it was a fair result that (Seattle) got a goal."

jmyers@dispatch.com

@_jcmyers