Crew open season with a draw

By: Matt | March 23rd, 2009

As I mentioned in my preview, the highlight of the opening weekend of MLS was going to be the Columbus Crew-Houston Dynamo match-up. The match featured the last three MLS Cup champions and arguably the best two teams in the MLS. Well, the match did not dissapoint as it was a back and forth affair, with both sides getting numerous scoring opportunities and creating an entertaining match that ended in a 1-1 draw. While these type of entertaining matches are great for neutral soccer fans, they can drive a supporter of a team involved crazy. While taking a point from a tough team on the road, like the Crew did against Houston on Saturday, the team and Crew fans might feel like they should have earned all three points. There was some controversy, but the Crew had chances to win the match.

For the first half hour, the Crew had to deal with intense pressure from the home team. The Dynamo came out of the gates of fire, but Brian Ching and Chris Wondolowski sent two headers over the bar. A half hour into the match, the Crew seemed to settle down and apply some offensive pressure of their own. In the 31st minute, Gino Padula played a good cross that found Eddie Gaven unmarked, but Gaven could not finish and sent the chance high and wide. Two minutes later, it seemed like the Crew made the breakthrough in the game when Guillermo Barros Schelotto took a free kick that found big Chad Marshall. Marshall got his head on the ball and put it into the back of the net, but the referee quickly blew off the goal for a foul on Marshall. I’ve certainly seen worse behavior allowed in the mixer and the call seemed inconsistent with how the rest of the game was called. A hint of controversy was added to this exciting match.

With both teams being held scoreless after the first half, Houston came out of the locker room as the aggressor in the 2nd half and it finally payed off. Eight minutes into the half Brian Ching and Chris Wondolowski played some great give and go passing that saw Wondolowski thread the ball behind the Crew defense and onto the foot of Brian Ching who put the ball past Will Hesmer. After scoring the opening the scoring of the game, it seemed that it was only a matter of time before the home team got another goal. In the 77th minute, Wondolowski ripped a shot from the top of the box but the shot just went wide. Two minutes later, Brad Davis tried to chip the ball over Will Hesmer’s head but Hesmer was able to get a hand on it. The champions back line was bending, but never broke to give Houston the break away goal, and as anyone who watched the team last season knows, this team has a tendency to never quit and have a flare for late game dramatics.

In the 82nd minute, Columbus finally got onto the board when substitute Jason Garey got his head on a long cross that found the feet of Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The Houston defense gave the MVP far too much time and space, and the Argentinian made them pay when he coolly placed the ball to the right of Houston keeper Pat Onstad. The goal was a great finish to an entertaining match and both teams can probably feel both lucky and disappointed after the 90 minutes to end up with a point.

The Crew had opportunities to win the game, but also gave up ample chances to go home empty handed, so a point from a top team in the MLS’s ground is probably a fair result. Both teams had to deal with the seemingly unplayable pitch that Robertson Stadium was providing that night. Houston keeper Pat Onstad called it “a joke that professionals had to use it”, so it was that bad. Watching the match, the pitch looked like a sandbox and with so many flare players that the Crew have, it was a tough task to be creative on such a shit pitch. While the Crew did not lose on Saturday, another key player was hit with the injury bug. Robbie Rogers had to be subbed off during the match with a hamstring problem. Anyone who has had such an injury knows that it could be a couple weeks before we see Rogers back on the field.

Next week the Crew come back to Columbus to take on Toronto FC. Due to national duties, the Crew will be without Frankie Hejduk, Alejandro Moreno, and Duncan Oughton. Pat Noonan and Robbie Rogers will also be missing the match due to injury, while Adam Moffat is still a question mark. The Crew’s much heralded depth will be tested with so many people missing the match and the team might struggle against an improved TFC….aw heck, who am I kidding. It’s Toronto, I could get a run out against them and the Crew would be fine. Less than one week until Crewsmas!

Highlights