Columbus Crew vs. FC Dallas: Match Report

By: James | August 23rd, 2008

Crew 2, Hoops 1
Dallas: Cunningham(Adrian Serioux) 35
Columbus: Carroll(Schelotto, Moreno) 62, Evans(Schelotto) 65

Kenny Cooper and the FC Dallas Hoops came to Columbus Saturday night. Shellas Hyndeman has added 2 new players since he replaced Steve Morrow in June. Those additions, Jeff Cunningham and Nick Sikora, played well in Columbus, but Cunningham’s lone goal wasn’t enough to continue the Hoops’ 11-game unbeaten streak.

Both Columbus and Dallas were coming off of a bye week, but only the Hoops came ready to play. Columbus struggled throughout the first half while FC Dallas ran a 45-minute passing clinic. FC Dallas clearly has the skill to beat any MLS team.

Jeff Cunningham is as fast as Frankie Hejduk and showed a presence on the attack that the Crew struggled to contain. Although he didn’t score, Kenny Cooper was perhaps more dangerous, with several shots in the first half. Cunningham looks like a good addition for Dallas despite his difficulties in Toronto. Cooper’s size, speed, and agility are on par with what you seen in the premiere league. It’s no wonder several teams have expressed interest.

The Crew’s main difficulty in the first half was possession. Dallas held and passed the ball effectively, and made it difficult for the Crew to gain possession. The played the ball to feet, looked for open space, and were patient about finding good chances to advance and shoot. Cooper’s ability to win 50/50 balls is probably top among MLS forwards. He was both frustrating and dangerous as the clear target of choice out of the midfield. Cunningham makes a potent second option. Cunningham’s goal was his first with Dallas and his 100th in his MLS career. He’s only the fourth player to reach that mark in MLS, achieving 62 of those for the Crew. This goal came on a bit of miscommunication between Hesmer and Marshall who ended in a pile while Cunningham tapped it in.

For the Crew’s part, the defense was inconsistent in the first half. There were several errors: poor passes from Gino Padula, an odd turnover from Danny O’Rourke, and several incidents of poor communication - even collisions - in the penalty box.

Hesmer and his defenders were a little out of sync, but there were also several great plays that kept Dallas from converting more of their chances. Other than Guillermo, the defense was all there was to cheer for in the first half. Chad Marshall and Danny O’Rourke each made critical stops, and Hesmer had another excellent match.

There were lessons for the Crew defense in the FC Dallas defensive effort of the first half. Their back four broke up chances by closing down angles to the goal and passing lanes to all but the outside. Pat Noonan hadn’t quite gelled with Padula, Schelotto or Moreno. He should find a way to combine with any of those players for good chances in future games, but Dallas was unforgiving until they encountered Goal of the Week class chances in the second half. The Hoops Aaron Pitchkolan was a standout on defense. His quality play proves that a converted midfield can adapt to the back line if he’s in an effective system.

A major difference between the Crew’s defense and the Dallas effort was that while FC Dallas faced 4 hardworking defense-minded players, the Crew faced 8. The Dallas midfielders fell back to compress the Crew’s attacks between a tight back line and an aggressively defensive midfield. Dallas created both a rock and a hard place. The Crew really only have a rock. Every time the Crew attacked in the first half they faced 8 players. Kenny Cooper and Jeff Cunningham and the Hoops faced no more than 4 when they attacked.
Another key component to the Dallas attack was defender Adrian Serioux’s throw ins. That guy is a cannon. Any throw-in in the attacking half has to be defended like a corner kick. This freak of nature is truly impressive.

Sigi plays the midfielders other than Carroll in a very offensive posture. They’ve been effective on attacks and counterattacks, but often the defensive risks have led to opposing goals. There’s also been some difficulty gaining and retaining possession of the ball as the focus stays on moving the ball forward quickly rather than intelligently. Columbus could shore up its defense with a more defensive look from the midfield when momentum turns to the opponent.

In the second half Dallas lost a step while Columbus picked up its game. Gino Padula looked better in the second half against Dallas than he did in any of the games before his injury. He provided great `vice forward with several well placed balls along the sideline and to the top of the box. He seemed to have a good read on Alejandro Moreno and Robbie Rogers who replaced Noonan around the 60th minute. Padula showed a strong ability to hit balls over the midfield that nonetheless were played to feet. He also covered his defensive responsibilities while connecting to the offense.

In a post-game interview Noonan confessed that he was out of gas at 60 minutes. I look forward to seeing his play as he reaches full form.

Possession improved greatly in the second half. It was probably the best appearance on that front in several games. Much of the credit can go to the Crew’s central midfielders. Brad Evans had one of his best games of the season. He was effective and evident all over the field in the second half. There were a few times where Evans passed when he should have shot, or went to the wings when he had options in the middle, but he made an argument for staying in the first eleven.

Brian Carroll is consistently strong. The improved rate of possession allowed him to put work toward the offensive effort. Eddie Gaven is getting back to form as well, but I still look for him to find a role that helps him finish chances.

The Crew’s two goals were impressive, and I was excited to see Brian Carroll score. He’s been due a goal for six weeks. It’s great to support a team that is built in a way that allows a 4-year veteran in the defensive midfield get his third career goal. Carroll’s goal was voted Goal of the Week, not just for his shot, but for the combination from Moreno to Schelotto and then to Carroll. It was a brilliant effort that further emphasizes the value Schelotto brings to the team.

Schelotto hit a free kick to the near post that Evans headed past Hoops keeper Dario Sala for the win. Guile is deadly on set pieces and hit a good ball that Evans made better.

Most of the rest of the match was gravy. Good possession, good full team effort. The game ended, however, with several risky attacks captained by Kenny Cooper. William Hesmer really contributed to Dallas’s ability to press the late attack. just like early in the season he kicked several clearances all the way to FC Dallas defenders when he had crew defenders open near by. With a goal lead late in the game there was no need to play deep balls that were lost time after time. A sure ball to a defender will keep possession and help put away those games where we’ve risked too many late, avoidable, attacks.

First place, for three days. Ten more games until the playoffs. Our two games against the Revs and one remaining game in Chicago may decide the Supporters’ Shield.