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Schelotto Brace Guides Crew Past Chivas USA
Reigning league MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto hit a second half double to assure Columbus Crew took all three points against a tepid Chivas USA.
Jun 14, 2009 7:27:54 PM
A second half Guillermo Barros Schelotto double eased the way to a Columbus Crew victory over the visiting Chivas USA. Eduardo Lillingston put the Goats ahead in the first half, but the Argentine's brace gave the hosts a 2-1 win in Crew Stadium.
Both teams fielded altered lineups. For Chivas, missing Confederations Cup duo Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, Ante Jazic slid into left defense for his Chivas debut after struggling with concussion symptoms in the first half of the season.
The Crew deployed Danny O'Rourke in a more natural central defensive role with Chad Marshall missing through suspension. Brian Carroll reclaimed his midfield spot after overcoming shoulder injury, and Andy Gruenebaum continued in goal in place of the injured Will Hesmer.
First Half
Each team fired off quick warning shots in the opening seconds. In the first minute, Cuban striker Maykel Galindo rounded the defense and laid the ball off for Eduardo Lillingston. The Mexican couldn't turn the service towards goal under heavy pressure, and the ball went out for a corner.
Two minutes later, Guillermo Barros Schelotto played Alejandro Moreno through on goal, but Zach Thornton hastily left his goal line to slide into the ball. Carey Talley swept up the mess to assure neither chance came to anything.
From there the game devolved to a tense midfield scrap with very few clear-cut chances created. Chivas USA struggled to piece more than a few passes together under the swarming pressure of the Crew midfield. Columbus, for its part, hit out on quick counters once the ball was won back.
Half an hour in, Chivas finally got close to the goal. A trio of set-piece opportunities put pressure on Gruenebaum's goal. A free kick, a throw in, and a corner were the first bit of consternation the visitors gave the Crew net-minder.
Five minutes before the half, Chivas took the lead against the run of play. Gino Padula headed back towards his goal, putting Eric Brunner under pressure. The young defender slipped and Lillingston latched onto the loose ball to easily round Gruenebaum and pass into the empty net.
Second half
A goal down at home, Columbus came out of the gate frenzied and firing. Moreno chased down a Jed Zayner long ball and pushed a low shot near post where Thornton turned it around the post. A minute later, Emmanuel Ekop danced through the midfield and launched a stinging shot, but Jazic deflected it out of bounds. Mariano Trujillo headed Schelotto's resulting goal-bound corner off the line with Thornton flapping.
Just after the hour mark, Columbus was level. Carey Talley made a mess of a Grenebaum goal kick to allow Schelotto clear in on goal. Trujillo, chasing down the Argentine, seemed more concerned for the health of Talley who lay sprawling on the pitch than interested in closing down the shot. As such, last year's Major League Soccer MVP slotted home his ninth goal of the season with ease.
A few minutes later, the Crew should have been given a penalty. Jazic hauled down Ekpo in the box, but the referee, who took a laissez-faire approach all game, waved play on. The ball spilled to Robbie Rogers atop the box, but the winger's rasping shot missed the target. Ironically enough, it was Jazic who injured himself on the play, and so the 33-year-old was replaced by teenager Jorge Flores.
Five minutes from time, Columbus had another legitimate call for a penalty. Substitute Pat Noonan flicked the ball at Shavar Thomas in the box, and the ball ricocheted off the Jamaican's arm. Again, no call. A minute later, Rogers was the victim in the box on a great piece of Noonan service, and the ball slipped through to a criminally unmarked Schelotto at the far post, but the Argentine's shot hit the side netting.
In the 87th minute, Crew finally took the long-overdue lead. Padula atoned for his earlier error with an excellently curled ball into the box, which found Schelotto unmarked yet again. This time, the 36-year-old made no mistake, tucking a low shot into the far corner of the net. The goal was Schelotto's tenth of the season, good enough to lead MLS overall in the goal-scoring charts.
The win bumps Columbus up to fourth place in the East, only three points back of leaders D.C. United. The loss means Chivas USA is tied on points with the Houston Dynamo, but the Texans have two games in hand. The Goats have taken a miserly five points from the last six games.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
Both teams fielded altered lineups. For Chivas, missing Confederations Cup duo Jonathan Bornstein and Sacha Kljestan, Ante Jazic slid into left defense for his Chivas debut after struggling with concussion symptoms in the first half of the season.
The Crew deployed Danny O'Rourke in a more natural central defensive role with Chad Marshall missing through suspension. Brian Carroll reclaimed his midfield spot after overcoming shoulder injury, and Andy Gruenebaum continued in goal in place of the injured Will Hesmer.
First Half
Each team fired off quick warning shots in the opening seconds. In the first minute, Cuban striker Maykel Galindo rounded the defense and laid the ball off for Eduardo Lillingston. The Mexican couldn't turn the service towards goal under heavy pressure, and the ball went out for a corner.
Two minutes later, Guillermo Barros Schelotto played Alejandro Moreno through on goal, but Zach Thornton hastily left his goal line to slide into the ball. Carey Talley swept up the mess to assure neither chance came to anything.
From there the game devolved to a tense midfield scrap with very few clear-cut chances created. Chivas USA struggled to piece more than a few passes together under the swarming pressure of the Crew midfield. Columbus, for its part, hit out on quick counters once the ball was won back.
Half an hour in, Chivas finally got close to the goal. A trio of set-piece opportunities put pressure on Gruenebaum's goal. A free kick, a throw in, and a corner were the first bit of consternation the visitors gave the Crew net-minder.
Five minutes before the half, Chivas took the lead against the run of play. Gino Padula headed back towards his goal, putting Eric Brunner under pressure. The young defender slipped and Lillingston latched onto the loose ball to easily round Gruenebaum and pass into the empty net.
Second half
A goal down at home, Columbus came out of the gate frenzied and firing. Moreno chased down a Jed Zayner long ball and pushed a low shot near post where Thornton turned it around the post. A minute later, Emmanuel Ekop danced through the midfield and launched a stinging shot, but Jazic deflected it out of bounds. Mariano Trujillo headed Schelotto's resulting goal-bound corner off the line with Thornton flapping.
Just after the hour mark, Columbus was level. Carey Talley made a mess of a Grenebaum goal kick to allow Schelotto clear in on goal. Trujillo, chasing down the Argentine, seemed more concerned for the health of Talley who lay sprawling on the pitch than interested in closing down the shot. As such, last year's Major League Soccer MVP slotted home his ninth goal of the season with ease.
A few minutes later, the Crew should have been given a penalty. Jazic hauled down Ekpo in the box, but the referee, who took a laissez-faire approach all game, waved play on. The ball spilled to Robbie Rogers atop the box, but the winger's rasping shot missed the target. Ironically enough, it was Jazic who injured himself on the play, and so the 33-year-old was replaced by teenager Jorge Flores.
Five minutes from time, Columbus had another legitimate call for a penalty. Substitute Pat Noonan flicked the ball at Shavar Thomas in the box, and the ball ricocheted off the Jamaican's arm. Again, no call. A minute later, Rogers was the victim in the box on a great piece of Noonan service, and the ball slipped through to a criminally unmarked Schelotto at the far post, but the Argentine's shot hit the side netting.
In the 87th minute, Crew finally took the long-overdue lead. Padula atoned for his earlier error with an excellently curled ball into the box, which found Schelotto unmarked yet again. This time, the 36-year-old made no mistake, tucking a low shot into the far corner of the net. The goal was Schelotto's tenth of the season, good enough to lead MLS overall in the goal-scoring charts.
The win bumps Columbus up to fourth place in the East, only three points back of leaders D.C. United. The loss means Chivas USA is tied on points with the Houston Dynamo, but the Texans have two games in hand. The Goats have taken a miserly five points from the last six games.
Zac Lee Rigg, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
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