Back on the good foot

Crew Cuts

Back on the good foot

By Chris DeVille

Andrea Kjerrumgaard/Dispatch photo

Alejandro Moreno, Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven celebrate during a game at Crew Stadium in May.

For about a month, everything seemed to be going wrong for the Columbus Crew.

The lineup was in flux as injuries, suspensions and national team call-ups began to pile up. They couldn't win a game. They couldn't score a goal. The TV network that showed their games even folded.

Depleted but not defeated, the Crew put a stop to its tailspin with a definitive 3-0 win Saturday at Kansas City. First they secured a new TV partner, ONN. Then Chad Marshall ended the 369-minute scoreless streak with an authoritative header in the third minute. Columbus completed its slump-busting performance with two insurance goals from Alejandro Moreno and a shutout by William Hesmer.

Let's examine what went right in KC:

Corner kick conversion. The Crew has struggled to score on set pieces this season, but corner kicks have been particularly unkind. Prior to this match, Columbus had taken a league-leading 73 corners but scored only one goal off them. Marshall's high-flying goal off a Guillermo Barros Schelotto cross improved that stat.
Super Schelotto. Much of Columbus' offensive futility before the Kansas City match can be attributed to a run of uncharacteristically bad play from attacking midfielder Schelotto. His killer cross on Marshall's goal was indicative of a game-long return to form.
Roger that. Breakout star Robbie Rogers was electric on the left flank. Plagued in recent weeks by overly aggressive defending that ought to have landed certain opponents in the slammer for assault, the speedy Californian found space and wreaked havoc.
Depth pays off. About those injuries: Budding midfield star Adam Moffat finds himself sidelined for the season with a torn ACL. Midfielder Eddie Gaven and veteran defenders Ezra Hendrickson and Gino Padula remain injured as well. But oft-injured veteran Duncan Oughton and rookies Andy Iro and Ryan Junge, each starting for the first time this season, filled in admirably.
Wimpy Wizards. The Black and Gold benefited from a hapless performance by its opponent. But rather than play down to its competition, Columbus looked like the Crew of early this season as they took care of business and righted the ship.

What's next for the Crew?

Columbus finds itself at a crucial crossroads for the season. Which squad is going to show up more often from here on out: the one that reeled off five straight wins, or the one that couldn't manage a goal in four straight matches?

Los Angeles might not be the best place to find out. Former Crew forward Edson Buddle is coming off his second hat trick of the season for the Galaxy, who will also have league scoring leader Landon Donovan back in the fold. But if Columbus can win Saturday at the Home Depot Center (10:30 p.m., ONN), it can win anywhere.

June 19, 2008