|
|
Columbus Downs Real Salt Lake 3-1
Crew’s depleted roster fared better than Salt Lake’s.
Jul 19, 2009 1:35:57 AM
Both teams came into this match in Columbus missing key components of their team due to national team call-ups, disciplinary suspension, or injury. The most notable absentees were the Columbus Crew’s midfielder extraordinaire, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Real Salt Lake’s blue collar midfielder, Kyle Beckerman.
First Half
It appeared that Columbus was a rudderless ship without its Argentine playmaker, as the Crew struggled to find and keep possession over the first 20 minutes of the game.
The early chances were created by Real Salt Lake. The hosts earned a couple of early corners and sprung forwards Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan on separate plays. With Findley’s opportunity in the eighth minute, he used his pace to get beyond his opponent with a well-timed pass but his second touch was poor and left him too close Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer, who was able to easily deflect the chance.
Movsisyan’s chance came in the 20th minute, when he beat his mark and appeared to be in on the 'keeper, but defender Gino Padula chased from behind and clipped his legs. Movsisyan pled for a penalty kick, but the referee waved “play on.”
In the 22nd minute, Columbus put the first tally on the board off a goal by forward Steven Lenhart. Defender Frankie Hejduk pushed forward and got past his man, delivering a ball to the front of the goal which was knocked down but not cleared by RSL defender Jamison Olave. Lenhart took advantage of the sitter, and slid the ball into the net.
Just nine minutes later, disaster struck for Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando. A nice ball was delivered into the box and headed by Lenhart. The ball went straight up into the air and Rimando was knocked down in a scrum in front of the net and lost sight of the ball. It dropped to the turf and was easily put away by Jason Garey for the Crew’s second goal.
Second Half
It appeared that Real Salt Lake would get back into the game immediately in the second half as newly acquired forward Pablo Campos received a pass into space that put him behind the defense. His diagonal movement drew Hesmer out off of his line, and he tried to finesse the ball back to the right but it dribbled just wide of the goal.
In the 53rd minute, a beautiful give-and-go situation essentially put the game away for the Crew. A nice direct pass forward to Lenhart allowed him to spring Garey free with a lovely back-heel pass. Garey walked into the area unimpeded and easily slid the ball past Rimando for a 3-0 lead.
From that point on, RSL put a lot of pressure on the Columbus defense. They missed some easy chances, with the easiest coming in the 72nd minute when Movsisyan received a ball from Wingert at the top of the box. He only had the keeper to beat, but his shot went high and hit the crossbar.
Salt Lake pulled one back in the 76th minute, when substitute midfielder Raphael Cox took advantage of a sitter knocked down by Campos and put the ball in. The goal was the first career goal for the rookie.
Despite continued chances from that point on, the game ended with the 3-1 result, taking Columbus to 27 points on the season with a 6-3-9 record. They play Toronto FC at home next week.
Real Salt Lake remains at 20 points and falls to a 5-7-5 record. They next play FC Dallas at home next week.
Randy Davis, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
First Half
It appeared that Columbus was a rudderless ship without its Argentine playmaker, as the Crew struggled to find and keep possession over the first 20 minutes of the game.
The early chances were created by Real Salt Lake. The hosts earned a couple of early corners and sprung forwards Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan on separate plays. With Findley’s opportunity in the eighth minute, he used his pace to get beyond his opponent with a well-timed pass but his second touch was poor and left him too close Crew goalkeeper Will Hesmer, who was able to easily deflect the chance.
Movsisyan’s chance came in the 20th minute, when he beat his mark and appeared to be in on the 'keeper, but defender Gino Padula chased from behind and clipped his legs. Movsisyan pled for a penalty kick, but the referee waved “play on.”
In the 22nd minute, Columbus put the first tally on the board off a goal by forward Steven Lenhart. Defender Frankie Hejduk pushed forward and got past his man, delivering a ball to the front of the goal which was knocked down but not cleared by RSL defender Jamison Olave. Lenhart took advantage of the sitter, and slid the ball into the net.
Just nine minutes later, disaster struck for Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando. A nice ball was delivered into the box and headed by Lenhart. The ball went straight up into the air and Rimando was knocked down in a scrum in front of the net and lost sight of the ball. It dropped to the turf and was easily put away by Jason Garey for the Crew’s second goal.
Second Half
It appeared that Real Salt Lake would get back into the game immediately in the second half as newly acquired forward Pablo Campos received a pass into space that put him behind the defense. His diagonal movement drew Hesmer out off of his line, and he tried to finesse the ball back to the right but it dribbled just wide of the goal.
In the 53rd minute, a beautiful give-and-go situation essentially put the game away for the Crew. A nice direct pass forward to Lenhart allowed him to spring Garey free with a lovely back-heel pass. Garey walked into the area unimpeded and easily slid the ball past Rimando for a 3-0 lead.
From that point on, RSL put a lot of pressure on the Columbus defense. They missed some easy chances, with the easiest coming in the 72nd minute when Movsisyan received a ball from Wingert at the top of the box. He only had the keeper to beat, but his shot went high and hit the crossbar.
Salt Lake pulled one back in the 76th minute, when substitute midfielder Raphael Cox took advantage of a sitter knocked down by Campos and put the ball in. The goal was the first career goal for the rookie.
Despite continued chances from that point on, the game ended with the 3-1 result, taking Columbus to 27 points on the season with a 6-3-9 record. They play Toronto FC at home next week.
Real Salt Lake remains at 20 points and falls to a 5-7-5 record. They next play FC Dallas at home next week.
Randy Davis, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
Inside Goal.Com
-
EURO 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi and Van Persie named in Goal.com's dream team XI
Goal.com put together its dream team for this summer's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.