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MLS Champs Outmuscle Rigid Earthquakes
Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew overpowered the San Jose Earthquakes last night, netting three second-half goals in less than twenty minutes. Alejandro Moreno scored first to put the Crew ahead, and goals from Robbie Rogers and Adam Moffat completed the rout. San Jose missed too many chances and made costly defensive errors.
Aug 9, 2009 9:01:22 PM
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—Coming into the match, San Jose had bright hopes after their 4-0 trouncing of Seattle last weekend. Though sitting at the bottom in the West, San Jose still has playoff aspirations if they can begin stringing together some wins.
For their part, the Columbus Crew boasted a six game unbeaten streak, with three wins in a row leading into their game against the Earthquakes. The reigning MLS Champions had to manage without Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Frankie Hejduk, both sidelined with injuries.
The last time these two teams met, back in May, Columbus walked away with a 2-1 victory.
First Half
The first forty-five minutes of play saw some decent chances created by both teams, but neither could hit the back of the net.
The Earthquakes had their first real opportunity to break the deadlock half an hour in. Defender Chris Leitch found teammate Cornell Glen with a pass from the right side of the field. Glen skillfully turned with the ball and dribbled toward goal, losing one marker and weaving between two others. He fired off a shot to the far post and forced a good diving save from Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer.
Ten minutes later, Columbus had their best chance of the first half. Jed Zayner chipped the ball into the box from the right flank, and midfielder Robbie Rogers ran between two San Jose defenders to win the header. He directed it just wide of the left post.
At the half-time whistle, the score remained 0-0.
Second Half
For the first portion of the second half, San Jose looked more organized and dangerous.
Near the hour mark, Ryan Johnson crossed a promising ball into the box that Darren Huckerby just missed. Arturo Alvarez came on as a substitute for San Jose, adding a new dimension to the Earthquakes’ offense and stretching the Crew defense. In the 68th minute, Glen made another smart turn in front of goal and drilled in a shot. His attempt went straight to Hesmer.
San Jose lacked a clinical finish, though, and Columbus took advantage with counterattacks. They got their reward in the 69th minute.
Substitutes Emmanuel Ekpo and Alejandro Moreno combined with Robbie Rogers to give the Crew a 1-0 lead. Ekpo crossed the ball from the right to the far post, and Rogers headed it back across the face of goal. Moreno drove the ball into the net with a perfectly placed header, scoring his fourth of the season. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon could do nothing.
Just four minutes later Columbus doubled their advantage, again on a counterattack.
Rogers sprinted toward goal with the ball. Defender Jason Hernandez tried to block him, but Rogers kicked the ball between his legs. Fullback Leitch stepped up but scuffed his clearance, and Rogers was the first to react to the loose ball. He took another touch, then whipped a powerful shot inside the far post. It was Rogers’ first goal of the season.
In the 86th minute, Columbus again added to their score line, this time from a set piece. Gino Padula whipped in a corner kick, and substitute Adam Moffat jumped above the crowd to win the header. He directed the ball to goal, getting a bit lucky with a deflection off a San Jose defender that caught Cannon going the wrong way.
The match ended with a final score of 3-0 in favor of the Crew. Columbus now has nine wins on the season, and extend their unbeaten streak to seven games. San Jose tallied their eleventh loss of this campaign.
"San Jose was coming off a very good win, 4-0 over Seattle, so we were very careful," Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. "We didn't have that much energy, we didn't create too many things in the first half. But then in the second half, we turned it up a notch and scored three nice goals.”
"It was Jekyll and Hyde," Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop said. "We did ever so well last week. It seemed like we were doing okay today, but then the goal basically killed us."
San Jose (4-11-5, 17 pts) get two weeks off to regroup, with their next match-up a home game against the Kansas City Wizards on August 22nd. The Crew (9-3-9, 36 pts) returns home to host FC Dallas on August 15th.
Jennifer Dawson, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
For their part, the Columbus Crew boasted a six game unbeaten streak, with three wins in a row leading into their game against the Earthquakes. The reigning MLS Champions had to manage without Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Frankie Hejduk, both sidelined with injuries.
The last time these two teams met, back in May, Columbus walked away with a 2-1 victory.
First Half
The first forty-five minutes of play saw some decent chances created by both teams, but neither could hit the back of the net.
The Earthquakes had their first real opportunity to break the deadlock half an hour in. Defender Chris Leitch found teammate Cornell Glen with a pass from the right side of the field. Glen skillfully turned with the ball and dribbled toward goal, losing one marker and weaving between two others. He fired off a shot to the far post and forced a good diving save from Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer.
Ten minutes later, Columbus had their best chance of the first half. Jed Zayner chipped the ball into the box from the right flank, and midfielder Robbie Rogers ran between two San Jose defenders to win the header. He directed it just wide of the left post.
At the half-time whistle, the score remained 0-0.
Second Half
For the first portion of the second half, San Jose looked more organized and dangerous.
Near the hour mark, Ryan Johnson crossed a promising ball into the box that Darren Huckerby just missed. Arturo Alvarez came on as a substitute for San Jose, adding a new dimension to the Earthquakes’ offense and stretching the Crew defense. In the 68th minute, Glen made another smart turn in front of goal and drilled in a shot. His attempt went straight to Hesmer.
San Jose lacked a clinical finish, though, and Columbus took advantage with counterattacks. They got their reward in the 69th minute.
Substitutes Emmanuel Ekpo and Alejandro Moreno combined with Robbie Rogers to give the Crew a 1-0 lead. Ekpo crossed the ball from the right to the far post, and Rogers headed it back across the face of goal. Moreno drove the ball into the net with a perfectly placed header, scoring his fourth of the season. Goalkeeper Joe Cannon could do nothing.
Just four minutes later Columbus doubled their advantage, again on a counterattack.
Rogers sprinted toward goal with the ball. Defender Jason Hernandez tried to block him, but Rogers kicked the ball between his legs. Fullback Leitch stepped up but scuffed his clearance, and Rogers was the first to react to the loose ball. He took another touch, then whipped a powerful shot inside the far post. It was Rogers’ first goal of the season.
In the 86th minute, Columbus again added to their score line, this time from a set piece. Gino Padula whipped in a corner kick, and substitute Adam Moffat jumped above the crowd to win the header. He directed the ball to goal, getting a bit lucky with a deflection off a San Jose defender that caught Cannon going the wrong way.
The match ended with a final score of 3-0 in favor of the Crew. Columbus now has nine wins on the season, and extend their unbeaten streak to seven games. San Jose tallied their eleventh loss of this campaign.
"San Jose was coming off a very good win, 4-0 over Seattle, so we were very careful," Crew coach Robert Warzycha said. "We didn't have that much energy, we didn't create too many things in the first half. But then in the second half, we turned it up a notch and scored three nice goals.”
"It was Jekyll and Hyde," Earthquakes coach Frank Yallop said. "We did ever so well last week. It seemed like we were doing okay today, but then the goal basically killed us."
San Jose (4-11-5, 17 pts) get two weeks off to regroup, with their next match-up a home game against the Kansas City Wizards on August 22nd. The Crew (9-3-9, 36 pts) returns home to host FC Dallas on August 15th.
Jennifer Dawson, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
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