Coverage
In order to advance, the Columbus Crew needed to score two goals tonight against Real Salt Lake. They accomplished that in the game's first 35 minutes. Unfortunately, over the ensuing 55 minutes they proceeded to give up three goals, eliminating them from the playoffs.
The night started brightly even before the opening kickoff, when it was announced that the team's veteran forwards Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno would be starting. The pair, responsible for 16 goals and four assists in the regular season, would combine for four shots on goal on the night.
It was Real Salt Lake, however, who created the game's first scoring chance. Andy Williams beat the Columbus offside trap in the game's opening minutes, but goalkeeper William Hesmer was able to rush off his line and smother the chance before Williams could get a clean shot off.
Columbus tried to answer minutes later through Eddie Gaven. The right winger got his head to a cross at the penalty spot, but his shot was fairly easily saved by Nick Rimando at the right post.
The game's first goal came in the 19th minute. Alejandro Moreno was fouled by center back Jamison Olave on a Crew counter attack, handing Columbus a free kick about 10 yards into their attacking half, yards off the left touchline. Guillermo Barros Schelotto floated the free kick toward the back post, where it bounced awkwardly past everyone and into the far side netting.
With the series level on aggregate goals at one apiece, Real Salt Lake started playing with more intensity, but at times were guilty of trying to force play through the air with balls a bit too long for their targets. When they stuck to a ground-based passing game they were much more dangerous, probing the flanks in a very similar fashion to the Crew's mode of attack.
One of the best chances for Real Salt Lake came in just this fashion, exploiting the Crew's right back as Hejduk was pulled centrally in the 26th minute. Fabian Espindola seemed to be able to get around the right side, but was judged to be barely offside before shooting wide of the near post.
In the 33rd minute, Salt Lake was handed a mostly open look at goal, but Robbie Findley's left footed shot from the top of the penalty area floated high and wide of the back corner of the goal.
The Crew took the series lead in the 35th minute through some dogged ballwinning from Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Emmanuel Ekpo. Having built up the left flank, Real Salt Lake won the ball back near the top of the penalty area. Schelotto hounded defender Robbie Russell, however, and together with Ekpo they forced a turnover. Schelotto picked up the ball, touched centrally around the marking Olave, and launched a curling right footed shot that nestled inside the far post.
The Crew had scored their two goals with almost an hour to spare.
The team was unable to defend their lead, however, and within two minutes a defensive breakdown had allowed Salt Lake to pull level on aggregate. Javier Morales ran through the Crew back line, and rather than hold the line Frankie Hejduk dropped back as well, leaving Morales onside. The central midfielder received the ball and in a fluid motion shot under William Hesmer's diving left hand before the home fans had sat down in their seats again.
Emmanuel Ekpo nearly restored the Crew's advantage in the next minute. Building up the left flank, Ekpo lofted a delicate chip over Nick Rimando from a tight angle, but the ball landed on the top of the crossbar and bounced back into play, where the Salt Lake back line cleared safely.
Two minutes after an apparent hand ball in the box was not called on Real Salt Lake, referee Baldomero Toledo did signal a penalty kick - but against the Crew. Right back Frankie Hejduk was judged to have pulled down Fabian Espindola on a Salt Lake free kick. Toledo, who was well positioned on the play, did not hesitate in pointing to the spot. Findley did not hesitate either, sending his penalty sharply to his left while Hesmer dived the wrong way.
Columbus started the second half brightly, involving most of their field players in several passing strings in the opening minutes of the second half. Frankie Hejduk had a ball cleared between his legs in the Salt Lake penalty area before the 50th minute, and neither Chad Marshall nor Alejandro Moreno could score from close range in the 52nd minute.
While the Crew was forced into some sloppy play in the midfield as the half wore on, they kept creating plenty of scoring chances. Despite appeals for a penalty in the 55th minute, it was Alejandro Moreno who next found himself with a caution. The Venezuelan forward was given a yellow card for diving in the 58th minute, having fallen under light contact from a Salt Lake defender. In between, Schelotto had a free kick opportunity from just 20 yards away, but sent his shot into the defensive wall.
Both teams started bringing on substitutes around the hour mark, as Jason Kreis sent on Yura Movsisyan to replace Fabian Espindola at the same time that Warzycha replaced Emmanuel Ekpo with Robbie Rogers. Rogers acquitted himself well, involving himself well with the play but ended the game without an official shot.
The same could not be said for Andy Williams, whose goal in the 74th minute effectively iced the series. Moments after pulling off Frankie Hejduk in favor of forward Steven Lenhart, Salt Lake took a short corner on the Crew's right side. Andy Williams received the corner at the top corner of the penalty area, and sent a low bouncing shot toward the goal through a cluster of players. Unbelievably, it bounced through everyone without a touch and nestled inside William Hesmer's far post.
With Real Salt Lake enjoying a 4-2 lead in the aggregate series, Columbus emotions were running high. The team kept pushing for a goal that would pull them back into contention, but despite winning a handful of free kicks the team were never able to seriously threaten Nick Rimando's goal.
Eric Brunner got off a headed shot in the 76th minute that was easily saved by Rimando, while Jason Garey sent a glancing header that was tipped over the bar by the diminutive goalkeeper in the 85th minute. In the meantime, the Crew defenders at times tried to do too much, with alternately Gino Padula and Danny O'Rourke sending long balls well over the cross bar that defused potentially dangerous buildups.
The last scoring chance of the game fell to Steven Lenhart, who found the ball at his feet from seven yards out in the center of the goal. Perhaps fittingly, his shot missed high over the crossbar, condemning the Crew to an early playoff exit and an unsuccessful defense of the MLS Cup.
What It Means
Tonight's loss eliminates the Crew from the 2009 playoffs, having lost the two-game series 2-4 on aggregate. Real Salt Lake advances to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will face either the Chicago Fire or New England Revolution.
Up Next
The Crew's next competitive match will come the week of March 9th, 2010 as they compete in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League. The second leg of that series will be the week of March 16th, while the 2010 league season will open around March 27th.
The team will learn their Champions League opponent after the quarterfinal draw, scheduled for November 17th.
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