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The underrated player behind Columbus Crew's impressive trophy run
When the Columbus Crew beat Los Angeles FC last December in the 2023 MLS Cup Final, they did so on the back of an eyebrow-raising tactical change.
Coach Wilfried Nancy swapped out German wingback Julian Gressel, a midseason acquisition hired to shore up Columbus's defensive line, for Mohamed Farsi, a young, unpredictable talent from the Columbus youth team. Farsi had lost his spot in the starting lineup to Gressel at the end of the regular season.
Nancy's brainwave — to unsettle his opponents by bringing Farsi back against the prevailing wisdom of what skills matter in a tight final — proved to be a title-winning decision.
YOUR 2023 MLS CUP CHAMPIONS pic.twitter.com/j8xsfMMZiW
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) December 9, 2023
Nine months on, as Columbus lined up to face LAFC in the 2024 Leagues Cup final on August 25, Nancy made the same controversial choice once more.
Again, he entered the game with two wingbacks available; one, DeJuan Jones, who was known for defensive rigidity, and two, Farsi, who was known for attacking creativity.
Again, he chose Farsi against the prevailing opinion. And again, Nancy's decision proved to be correct. Farsi was the man of the match against LAFC, and it was his clever move (and eventual assist) that opened the scoring for Columbus.
CUCHO HERNANDEZ. IT'S WHAT HE DOES.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 26, 2024
@LeaguesCup Final on #MLSSeasonPass: https://t.co/3QrlxnoxB1 pic.twitter.com/vklQPIiIiE
Farsi has been the secret weapon behind both of Columbus's trophy wins this year. It's his athleticism and vision that allows Columbus to break through tough defenses. But Farsi didn't learn those skills purely on the soccer field; he developed them while earning youth championship titles in futsal and taekwondo.
It's the futsal skills in particular that set Farsi apart. Futsal is similar to soccer, but it's often played indoors on hardwood with fewer players and a smaller playing surface. It's a lightning-quick game that makes traditional soccer look plodding and slow in comparison, and the players who excel at it are ones with superior ball-control skills and fast reflexes.
Sergio Lozano's first international game in 533 days...
— UEFA Futsal (@UEFAFutsal) August 23, 2024
What an assist! #FutsalWC https://t.co/4BxnV1TGkS
That's the world Farsi came from, and you can see it in his play for Columbus. He's excellent at robbing the ball off slower, unsuspecting opponents and even better at finding the perfect pass right after to set his teammates up for attacks.
Farsi, as a wingback, is ostensibly a defender, but he's got some of the best attacking metrics on the Columbus squad. He's the defensive leader in key passes, successful crosses and expected goals, and he has the second-highest shot-conversion rate on the team.
As Columbus prepares for the MLS postseason, all eyes will be on its forward lineup of Cucho Hernandez, Diego Rossi and Christian Ramirez. That's a curse and a blessing for Farsi. One on hand, their star power renders him anonymous with casual fans and opponents; on the other, he does incredible things with the freedom that on-field anonymity grants him.
FARSI HAS TURNED IT AROUND pic.twitter.com/hHPnKvH9ZY
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) June 15, 2024
Columbus will return to MLS action this Wednesday, Aug. 28, against the Philadelphia Union. It has just 11 games remaining in the regular season and is expected to be a serious challenger for the MLS Cup once the postseason begins.
More must-reads:
- Columbus Crew defeats LAFC to win 2024 Leagues Cup
- Rapids beat Union on PKs to take third place at Leagues Cup
- The 'MLB playoff home run leaders' quiz
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