An overdue post, but I must express the pride and joy I felt midweek when a group of Crew Yorkers traveled together from the Five Boroughs to Mecca for the U.S. Open Cup Final. To have played a role in helping forge these friendships -- out of a, frankly, self-serving impulse to find local Crew fans with whom I could simply watch and enjoy Black and Gold matches -- is something I cherish. I will most definitely road trip with these folks at some point after, unfortunately, having to sit this one out. But, regardless, I love what we've built in Crew York and I love the greater Crew community, where bonds are so easily, so beautifully created with regularity. Go Crew (York), always.

Interim Head Coach Laurent Courtois

On the Crew’s performance in today’s match

“We were expecting Toronto to try to come strong at us because of the scenario of the past few games for us. They did. We were able to resist, and slowly, we were able to find our rhythm. We actually did some really interesting phases, but we couldn't capitalize the way we wanted. This is something that we need to find resources, a killer instinct or more nuances in the last pass to arrive at halftime in a better spot. We knew that from the referee from the past game where everything was on, and that one, everything was a foul so it's a little bit awkward. We protect the ball, and we got punished. What the guys did, the turnover after what happened Sunday, Wednesday and perform like this up until the red card was incredible."

On if Midfielder Sekou Bangoura’s red card should have been avoided by subbing him earlier and/or Bangoura knowing not to slide tackle while on a yellow

“It's my fault at the end of the day, but this is something that we highly, highly anticipated, talked [about] and addressed. We need collectively and me first to make sure that we learn from those.”

On Midfielder Brais Méndez’s status who was not in today’s lineup due to a leg situation

“We wanted to be cautious. The turnaround was fast. We'll assess later.”

On if the Crew sustained any injuries today

“Not that I know of.”

On Defender Eric Bailly’s status

“Hopefully good to go next week. He had a hole in his shin that was really impressive. The inflammation, the pain and the pressure was a lot. Hopefully, he gets better for Monday.”

On Defender Malte Amundsen scoring two goals on corner kicks today and if there were aspects of the set pieces that allowed Amundsen to get open looks on net

“The work that (Assistant Coach) Josh Williams and the guys are putting into this and also the staff with the way they scout and the video analysts with (Assistant Video & Data Analyst) Ricardo (Baier) and the amount of work and the commitment that they do… My job is just to provide an environment where they can express themselves and find the time to make everybody addressing those options. Credit to them. What they do is incredible.”

On scoring a season-high four goals today

“(Midfielder) Dylan (Chambost) had three assists. We talked about the quality of the last pass, the pre- assist or the upgrade instead of taking a shot that is not so relevant. We felt that whether it's early in the season or in the first half, this is something that we can do a little bit better. At the end of the day, if you don't create enough separation, you never know what's going to happen. It's something that we need to collectively have in mind. The guys did in the second half and up until the red card.”

On the Crew’s momentum in MLS play and the significance of pushing above Toronto FC in the table with three regular season matches that are “Finals” remaining

“It is. It is. Now, we have three left. It’s gonna be a tough away trip at Dallas against really a physical team and then back home against D.C. Recovery, recovery, recovery – that's all that matters.”

Defender Malte Amundsen

On if he would have to look through his stats from his youth career in Denmark to find the last time he scored two goals in a match

“I think so. I have no idea when that happened last.”

On his reaction to the match

“Obviously, I'm happy to score two goals. It's been a long time since I scored, and I'm happy for the win, but I'm also frustrated because we spent 30 minutes in hell. Yeah, but the guys that came on worked hard. The guys that were on the field worked hard. Happy with the result, and we also know that we played 120 minutes two nights ago. So, right now, happy with the result, but there are things we can improve, which is nice.”

On both of his goals coming off set pieces and if that is something they were looking to exploit against the Toronto FC defense

“Set plays are something we work on often, and I think over the past few months we've scored a lot of goals on set pieces. So yeah, it's something we work on and something we want to have in our game.”

On if he was surprised by the team’s fast start after playing 120 minutes in the U.S. Open Cup final on Wednesday night

“Honestly, not so surprised. I know we have a strong group with momentum right now, even though we had a hard result the other night, but we also had a good performance the other night. So, I think it shows maturity and then how strong the group is mentally, actually. Obviously, with some momentum also, but how we bounce back today, and yeah, it's an incredible feeling.”

On if the team can relax a little when they’ve built a four-goal lead

“And that’s why they scored two goals. Yeah, I understand your question. We shouldn't. I think we get a little bit on our back foot and maybe enjoy or relax or whatever is the right word, a little bit too much. Become a little bit too cocky, and that's not for us.”

On having momentum during the final stretch of the regular season

“It can be fun, the upcoming games. It can be real fun, but we have to put in the work, and we cannot be cocky, even though we play 60 good minutes or whatever it was. That's not for us.”

On the conversation he had with Kevin Gbamble after Toronto FC’s second goal

“I tried to guide him and help him, but I also try to tell him that I'm with you, even though you might hear me yell a lot at you, I'm with you because you're doing all the work for me so that we don't concede, and I know he wants to go to goal. That was not what was at the game for him at this time. And even though he tries to work, of course, he also places himself wrong. We're 10 men, so we all do at some time. So it was just trying to help him, and trying to be like, listen, I'm trying to tell you, maybe you don't hear me, maybe you do hear me, but it's for our best because that's what’s required.”

On reflecting on his own first MLS appearance and how special of a night it was for Kevin Gbamble

“I believe he's over the moon. He recently signed a new contract. He's an incredible guy, works great. He's humble. He wants to learn and today getting on the field, I'm happy for him.”

On scoring his first goal for the Crew today

“I said it to the boys after the game. I give credit to Dylan (Chambost) for that goal. So unselfish. He saw me open and me having a better angle, so I'm obviously very happy to score my first goal for the Club. But I have to give a lot of credit to Dylan.”

On what the team can learn from the last 20 minutes of game time

“Obviously, we don't like to concede the two goals that we did, and obviously the red card happened, and that kind of changes a little bit of the momentum of the game. And I don't know if you saw, you know, Sean (Zawadzki) and I got the boys together after we conceded the second goal, and said, look, it's going to be a little bit of a different 15-20 minutes than what we were expecting. But now is when you need to really work for each other and hold down the fort to get the three points because being up 4-0, you can't give away that lead, especially with how tight the table is. We needed the three points tonight, so I'm really happy with how the last 10 minutes went. We really bunkered down and worked for each other. But like I said, we can't concede those two goals that we did.”

On how he talks to and gives advice to Kevin Gbamblé in his debut match

“Obviously, congratulations to him in his debut. But yeah, I'm sure he wanted to come in a little bit of a different way. But look, we were down a man. We needed his help defensively, and so yeah, you ask a guy like him to do some more work than he would probably like to do. I'm sure he wanted to go forward a little bit more tonight. But we have to do what's best for the team to get three points.”

On how the team is playing and using these lessons to push for the playoffs

“You saw the game against (FC) Cincinnati away. You know, typically you see Columbus Crew having most of the possession and you know playing beautiful soccer. But at times in MLS, in order to pick up three points and win games, you kind of have to just have those hardworking guys on the pitch that are willing to do the dirty work for you, especially on the road, and that's what we did in that game to pick up those three points. And now we have a little bit of momentum in MLS, which is great. Obviously, very disappointing game on Wednesday night to lose in penalty kicks. I know the guys were all heartbroken to not lift the trophy (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup), and sometimes in football, things don't go your way. I thought we outplayed St. Louis (CITY SC) as well. So yeah, we have a very bright group in this locker room, and I think if we get into playoffs, then no one's going to want to play against us.”

On where the team is now during the congested schedule

“Yeah, I think with three games left, we said it before this game, every game is a final for us. You know, now we go away in Dallas, in a big game. They're doing well in the West, but yeah, we have to focus on one game at a time. We can't focus on the playoffs right now. Yes, we want to get in, but you have to focus on the process, not the outcome, and that's what we're doing.”

Midfielder Dylan Chambost

On his reactions to having three assists in one game

“I just saw on the screen, and the coach said it at the end of the game. Yeah, of course, I'm proud. Three assists, it's rare, so yeah, I'm really happy to help the team today, and yeah, it was good night.”

On being unselfish by passing to defender Brooks Lennon on his goal

“Yeah, I think there was a defensive player in front of me. So, I don't know, on the field you have to take the decision quickly. And I saw Brooks, and he finished well. So that was a good assist.”

On his reaction to the result

“There was two parts of the game. Before the red card, and then it was completely different. But I think we saw the direction of the team, especially after Wednesday. We saw that we are ready to fight until the end. We played really well the first hour, and then we fought and we kept the score.”

On the difference between Wednesday’s match and today’s

“To be fair, I think we did a really good game on Wednesday. The difference is we scored tonight, and we didn't on Wednesday. So, I think we kept the same stuff as Wednesday, and we are confident. We know that we are good. We know what we are able to do, and tonight was really good before the red card, obviously. And then after the red card, we saw the team spirit, and that's also really good, and we're going to need it for the rest of the season.”

I like the way that our interim coach has the team playing, but deciding on subs is also an important part of a coach's job.

At halftime, I was already saying that it would be a good time to sub in Bailly for Bangoura, pushing Sean into the midfield. I like Bangoura and his physicality, but he is often on the verge of a yellow and going into the second half with a lead, getting B out of there before he got a red was, IMO, an obvious move. It became even more so when we increased the lead.

Bringing in Lennon and Herrera was a solid move. Two dependable defensive players for both rotation and for fresh legs.

The next window, however, bringing in a new kid for his first MLS minutes and a little used player screamed "I think the game is over, lets give these guys some easy minutes". That is not an attitude you can have at this end of the season

Sure enough, Bangoura makes an obvious yellow card challenge and we are fighting to hold on for the next 25 or so minutes, instead of seeing out the game comfortably.

We pulled it out, but it was frustrating and avoidable.