OBETZ, Ohio -- Federico Higuain earned a league-wide reputation for his play in his first two-and-a-half MLS seasons with Columbus Crew SC.
The Argentinian playmaker has been known for creating chances, whipping in frree kicks and chipping unsuspecting goalkeepers, and his attacking artistry saw Crew fans through some tough times before Gregg Berhalter's arrival.
Unfortunately, Higuain is also earning a reputation for cheap yellow cards and a quick temper. His fiery style helps him excel on the field, but came to a detrimental head in Saturday's loss to the New York Red Bulls when an outburst over a late foul saw him sent off for his second yellow of the match.
After the loss, Berhalter said he wasn't a "big fan" of how Higuain got the yellow, but stood up for his No. 10's aggression.
"What I would say is it was clearly frustration from a call that in my eyes was 50-50," he said. "That's a hard one to call. [Higuain] is emotional, and in my eyes it was maybe light dissent. But I think to give a guy a second yellow for that is harsh."
The discipline was nothing new for Higuain. In 74 regular-season matches with Crew SC, Higuain has earned 17 yellow cards and two red cards.
Rather than harsh tackles or professional fouls, most of those could have been avoided, however. Of the eight yellows Higuain received in 2014, six came from non-contact infractions ranging from encroachment to dissent and time-wasting.
But even after Saturday’s ejection, Berhalter and Columbus players aren't worried about Higuain's discipline, and understood his anger in a frustrating match.
"Maybe I should have [said something] immediately when I saw the foul get called because obviously we're all frustrated; none of us thought it was a foul," Crew SC captain Michael Parkhurst said. "Maybe I should have gotten over there quicker. But after the fact, no, I don't need to say anything. Pipa has been a pro for a long time and he knows his mistake. He knows he hurt the team a little bit. We're past it."
Berhalter himself said he had a "two-minute conversation" with Higuain, and didn't believe anything else needed to be said.
"It was [Higuain] saying it wasn't the smartest thing in the world," Berhalter said, "and me agreeing and saying, 'I like you being emotional, we just need to use it in a positive way.' That's it. Hopefully he's learned."
Will Higuain be changing anything going forward?
"No," he said flatly.
"On both parties, myself and the referee, it was a little mix-up," he continued through a club translator. "It wasn't a play to get that card, it really wasn't. The main thing to focus on is to trust in one another, not only the technical staff, but one another."
For their April 8 match in Vancouver, Crew SC will have to find a way to replace the suspended Higuain. While he has yet to notch a goal or assist this season, players and coaches alike say his presence will be missed.
And when he returns, he'll be as full of confidence as ever, regardless of his stat line.
"I don't consider myself a goalscorer," he said. "I don't think I need to score goals to be a soccer player. We do this together."
