Columbus 1-0 CD Chivas USA

Raise your hand if you think soccer is the beautiful game.

Now raise your hand if you saw last Satudray’s match between the Columbus Crew and CD Chivas USA.

Now, raise your hand if you agree that the Crew and the Goats were not playing the beautiful game.

Yes, it was soccer, but it was about as far from joga bonito as it can get without leaving the professional level. There were hard fouls, ugly passes, lazy players, refs watching the wrong thing, and no goals to write home about.

The most beautiful, inspiring thing about this evening at the ballpark was watching Gino Padula put on a clinic for the kids. Padula, in true pirate fashion, robbed Chivas of two easy goals over the span of twenty seconds. If you have kids, or play the game yourself, make them watch and rewatch the way Gino covered the backside of the goalmouth. He was there, come hell or high water, to have his goalies back.

Without Padula playing the position the way it was meant to be played, the Crew would have lost this game 2-1. No doubt about it.

But, even with play so uninspired I couldn’t stop yawning in the stands and even with an opponent so dangerous as Chivas, the Crew did what they do and found a way to win.

In the 88th minute, Guillermo Barros Schelotto lined up for a free kick, picked out Chad Marshall’s big blond head, and put his pass on target. The problem, as it often is, was that Marshal was being physically abused by Chivas defender Justin Braun. Marshall, because of his considerable height and prowess, still got his head on the ball but it was to no avail.

Foul. In the Box. Penalty Kick.

We have all read this script. Guillermo steps up to the ball, motions with flailing arms towards the keeper while telling the ref something isn’t to his liking, readresses the ball, and buries a rocket in the back of the net. We’ve seen it happen so many times it’s becoming as expected as changing Ohio weather.

Now, one last time, raise your hand if you love it when Guillermo Barros Schelotto steps up to the Penalty Spot.

Game highlights here and player ratings here.

Category: Chris, Team News