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Schelotto’s Second Half Brace Snatches Point For Crew
The Chicago Fire appeared set to beat the Crew for the first time this year going into the break up 2-0, but the resilient MLS champions had other ideas.
Sep 20, 2009 6:19:47 PM
Chicago Fire 2-2 Columbus Crew
The
first time these two teams met this season they battled to a 2-2 draw
in April, with Chicago netting two late goals to salvage a point from
the match. The time before that, they met in the Eastern Conference
final with Columbus coming away with the result en route to their first
ever MLS Cup.
On
Sunday afternoon the teams met at Toyota Park in Chicago to again fight
for supremacy in the Eastern Conference with the Crew leading the race
by a mere three points.
The
match ended the way their first encounter ended this year did, but with
the goals coming in the opposite order. Up 2-0 going into the break, it
appeared as though Chicago had conquered it’s Columbus demons, having
also drawn with the Ohio club in July.
It
was not to be, however, as the Crew were able to fight back and snatch a
vital road point from their biggest competitors for their Eastern
Conference crown.
First Half
Given
the class displayed on the field, both sides obviously understand how
to control the ball and in the first few minutes this wasn’t too
evident. The ball switched teams on numerous occasions while the game
begin to take shape.
It
wasn’t long before the Fire would make their mark on the match and open
the scoring, seemingly determined not to let the Crew take the better
of them again.
Logan
Pause and Cuauhtemoc Blanco used some excellent exchange play down the
right wing to feed the ball into the Columbus box, where it was stopped
and laid off expertly by veteran striker Brian McBride to an incoming
Peter Lowry. In stride, Lowry blasted the ball by Will Hesmer at the
far post to give Chicago the 1-0 advantage at the six minute mark.
The
goal seemed to shake the foundation of the Crew. Fortunately for
Columbus fans, their team was shaken, but far from out of it. Their
response to the goal was actually quite positive and from its happening
to late in the first half the away side began to control the play.
In the 23rd
minute the ball was sent in on a free kick by Guillermo Barros
Schelotto from the right side. Attaching to it so well as he always
does was Alejandro Moreno who unselfishly flicked it on behind him
across the goal. With two open players at the far side the Crew looked
destined to square things up, but captain Frankie Hejdu wasn’t able to
send it home and the game remained 1-0 to Chicago.
Following
Hejduk’s near miss, the Crew kept the pressure high and were even able
to spring on the counterattack moments later. The ball was played over
the top to Moreno who was cutting in on goal on an angle. Going for the
shot just at the edge of the area, Moreno blasted it right into Fire
keeper Jon Busch who calmly pushed it aside.
The
match appeared to be on the verge of becoming a tie game, but from
practically nowhere the Fire didn’t relinquish their lead, but instead
extended it, again through Lowry.
With
about 10 minutes to go before half time, the ball was knocked in from
the right along the edge of the Crew area. It was jumbled around by no
less than two defenders in yellow and instead of being an easy
clearance it eventually rolled to the boot of Lowry who on the run
slammed it home for the 2-0 lead.
The
score stayed 2-0 going into the break with Chicago feeling they have
good value for the fortunate circumstances they find themselves in.
Second Half
Determined
to put things right after a shaky first half, the Crew jumped all over
the Fire in the early stages of the second 45 minutes.
Driven
by Alejandro Moreno, their work horse up front, Columbus was able to
make moves and hold the ball down in the Fire’s end for longer than
they had previously in the opening stanza.
Less
than 10 minutes into the second half, the Crew were able to cut into
Chicago’s lead thanks to strong play from Robbie Rogers down the left
flank. Rogers, who had been one of the bright spots for the Crew all
day with his streaking runs and dangerous cuts was up to it again and
managed to gain control of the ball in an attacking spot by the
touchline.
Playing
the ball in softly, Rogers was able to pick out Guillermo Barros
Schelotto who was unmarked just inside the six-yard area. With the
slightest of touches, Schelotto was able to nod the ball into the far
corner and at the same time cut the Fire’s 2-0 in half.
Things
stayed hot for both teams as the second half got into high gear with
chances coming a bit more regularly than they did earlier in the match.
There
was a spot of trouble for the home side about 63 minutes when they were
able to win a corner that was taken by Blanco. The Mexican vet didn’t
give us one of his best crosses and subsequently tweaked something
taking it and had to come off. Justin Mapp replaced him.
Still fighting for the equalizer, Columbus had another golden chance in the 72nd
minute when newly brought on striker Steven Lenhart was able to muscle
the ball around the area through Moreno. It eventually dropped nicely
for Schelotto at the edge of the box. The Argentine fired it cleanly on
net, but Busch was up to the challenge and pushed it aside.
Then came the controversy as in the 78th
minute the Crew won a penalty kick thanks to the gritty work of Moreno
in the middle. Robbie Rogers was able to outwork his defender on the
left again and put in a strong cross for Moreno to latch on to. The
defending was a bit rough and Moreno was taken down from behind. Right
after the altercation, Lenhart was dragged down and it was hard to tell
which of the two incidents was the infraction.
Regardless
of the call, Schelotto lined up for the spot kick and put it right down
main street, giving Busch very little chance of stopping it. The Crew
had fought back and the score now read 2-2.
All
things remained quiet until right near the end of the match when Fire
youngster Patrick Nyarko almost became the hero. Off a corner in the 89th
minute, the ball bounced to Nyarko who was practically standing in
front of Will Hesmer in the six-yard box. Going for an audacious
bicycle kick, Nyarko almost fooled everyone and put home the winner. It
was not to be however as the teams would have to settle for a point
apiece.
Chicago
remain three points back of Columbus and will welcome Toronto FC to
Toyota Park next weekend. Columbus are back to playing CONCACAF
Champions League matches midweek as they will take on Saprissa and then
the Sounders come to town at the weekend to resume MLS play.
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com
Talk all things soccer with the rest of our readers in the Goal.com Forums!
Shane Evans is an Associate Editor of Goal.com
Talk all things soccer with the rest of our readers in the Goal.com Forums!
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