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Played
September 4, 2010 7:30 PM EDT
RFK Stadium, Washington
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
September 4, 2010 7:30 PM EDT
RFK Stadium, Washington
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Top of the Match
Guillermos Barros Schelotto
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
Guillermos Barros Schelotto
Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew
Flop of the Match
B. Hamid
D.C. United
D.C. United
B. Hamid
D.C. United
D.C. United
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating D.C. United 0-1 Columbus Crew: Bill Hamid Howler Leads To Crew Victory
A misplayed ball from goalkeeper Bill Hamid gifted Guillermo Barros Schelotto and the Crew an important three points.
By Steven Streff
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Columbus Crew moved level on points with Los Angeles at the top of the MLS table with a 1-0 victory Saturday night against D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto took advantage of a mistake from United's keeper, Bill Hamid, to score midway through the first half, for what turned out to be the winning goal. With their victory, the Crew moved to 43 points from 23 games to draw even with the league-leading Los Angeles Galaxy, while United maintained their stranglehold on last place with their 16th loss of the season.
First Half
Steven Lenhart won a free kick for Columbus at the other end of the field minutes later, setting up a good opportunity for Guillermo Barros Schelotto just outside of the box. The Argentine did well to get his shot through the wall, but from there it bent just wide of the goal.
The game lacked any real excitement for an extended period after that chance, as United dominated possession -- but only in the middle third of the field.
However, United created the next chance, as midfielder Andy Najar picked up the ball in the Columbus half and worked his way to the corner of the box. From there, he sent a low, hard cross into the middle of the box. Allsopp was in position to redirect the ball into the goal, but he failed to get a touch to the ball.
It was only three minutes later that the Crew were in front, thanks to a howler from United's keeper, Bill Hamid. A simple back pass was played to Hamid, which he tried to settle before clearing. However, Schelotto was pressing Hamid, forcing Hamid to whiff on his clearance. From there, it was a simple finish for Schelotto, and Columbus had the lead.
United failed to respond quickly, but over time, they worked back into the game, threatening to score. Quaranta had a shot in the 29th minute that was blocked, but the ball fell into the path of Najar, who in turn had his shot deflected out for a corner.
Quaranta then had another opportunity to score form the top of the box, as Pablo Hernandez laid a pass off to Quaranta. However, the midfielder was forced to use his left foot, which ended with a shot well wide of the goal. Najar had a chance a minute after Quaranta's, but just like Quaranta, Najar sent his shot wide of the frame.
The half ended with Columbus controlling the match for the final 10 minutes, as they pressured United in search of a second goal. The possession and increased tempo failed to result in any additional goals, and they went into half with the one goal lead.
Second Half
While the first half had its share of scoring chances, the same could not be said of the second, as Columbus looked to hold on to their lead by stifling United's attack.
The first chance of the second half came in the 51st minute, as Eddie Gaven was on the end of a pass that put him in on goal. With Julius James draped on his side, Gaven attempted to curl a shot around Hamid to the far post, but United's stopper smothered the shot, preventing any resulting danger in the process.
It wasn't until the 66th minute that either side conspired to create a chance, as Columbus effectively shut the game down, and limited United's chances of finding an equalizer. Lenhart had a decent chance to add a second goal for Columbus, but he headed Schelotto's corner over from just yards out.
At a certain point in the second half, it became clear that United didn't possess the creative power to find an opening in the Columbus back line. Couple that with the fact that Columbus was more than content with keeping hold of their one-goal lead, and it's easy to see how the game became a stalemate for the most part.
That said, Columbus did have the couple of obligatory chances, as United searched for a potential equalizer. Lenhart had two chances, one in the 79th, the other in the 85th, to double the Crew's lead, but each time, his efforts ended up over the bar.
After just two minutes of stoppage time, the game came to an end, confirming the victory for Columbus.
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Guillermo Barros Schelotto took advantage of a mistake from United's keeper, Bill Hamid, to score midway through the first half, for what turned out to be the winning goal. With their victory, the Crew moved to 43 points from 23 games to draw even with the league-leading Los Angeles Galaxy, while United maintained their stranglehold on last place with their 16th loss of the season.
First Half
As per standard operating procedure this year for United, they came out of the gates the stronger side and had the first look at goal. In the sixth minute, Santino Quaranta did well to run down a long ball and round Chad Marshall before sending a cross into the box. The ball found striker Danny Allsopp, but the big Australian put his header over the bar.
Steven Lenhart won a free kick for Columbus at the other end of the field minutes later, setting up a good opportunity for Guillermo Barros Schelotto just outside of the box. The Argentine did well to get his shot through the wall, but from there it bent just wide of the goal.
The game lacked any real excitement for an extended period after that chance, as United dominated possession -- but only in the middle third of the field.
However, United created the next chance, as midfielder Andy Najar picked up the ball in the Columbus half and worked his way to the corner of the box. From there, he sent a low, hard cross into the middle of the box. Allsopp was in position to redirect the ball into the goal, but he failed to get a touch to the ball.
It was only three minutes later that the Crew were in front, thanks to a howler from United's keeper, Bill Hamid. A simple back pass was played to Hamid, which he tried to settle before clearing. However, Schelotto was pressing Hamid, forcing Hamid to whiff on his clearance. From there, it was a simple finish for Schelotto, and Columbus had the lead.
United failed to respond quickly, but over time, they worked back into the game, threatening to score. Quaranta had a shot in the 29th minute that was blocked, but the ball fell into the path of Najar, who in turn had his shot deflected out for a corner.
Quaranta then had another opportunity to score form the top of the box, as Pablo Hernandez laid a pass off to Quaranta. However, the midfielder was forced to use his left foot, which ended with a shot well wide of the goal. Najar had a chance a minute after Quaranta's, but just like Quaranta, Najar sent his shot wide of the frame.
The half ended with Columbus controlling the match for the final 10 minutes, as they pressured United in search of a second goal. The possession and increased tempo failed to result in any additional goals, and they went into half with the one goal lead.
Second Half
While the first half had its share of scoring chances, the same could not be said of the second, as Columbus looked to hold on to their lead by stifling United's attack.
The first chance of the second half came in the 51st minute, as Eddie Gaven was on the end of a pass that put him in on goal. With Julius James draped on his side, Gaven attempted to curl a shot around Hamid to the far post, but United's stopper smothered the shot, preventing any resulting danger in the process.
It wasn't until the 66th minute that either side conspired to create a chance, as Columbus effectively shut the game down, and limited United's chances of finding an equalizer. Lenhart had a decent chance to add a second goal for Columbus, but he headed Schelotto's corner over from just yards out.
At a certain point in the second half, it became clear that United didn't possess the creative power to find an opening in the Columbus back line. Couple that with the fact that Columbus was more than content with keeping hold of their one-goal lead, and it's easy to see how the game became a stalemate for the most part.
That said, Columbus did have the couple of obligatory chances, as United searched for a potential equalizer. Lenhart had two chances, one in the 79th, the other in the 85th, to double the Crew's lead, but each time, his efforts ended up over the bar.
After just two minutes of stoppage time, the game came to an end, confirming the victory for Columbus.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking- Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kenny Cooper
Striker NY Red Bulls |
11 | 2 |
|
Chris Wondolowski
Striker San Jose Earthquakes |
11 | 1 |
|
Thierry Henry
Striker NY Red Bulls |
9 | 0 |
|
Saer Sene
Striker New England |
7 | 1 |
|
Maicon Santos
Striker D.C. United |
7 | 0 |