The Cauldron

Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Sports

The Columbus Crew season has ended after a 3-2 loss to Real Salt Lake in what maybe the biggest upset in MLS Cup 2009. 10,109 Crew supporters came to see their black and gold move onto the next round of the MLS playoffs, but will be unable to defend their MLS Cup from a year ago. The Crew finishes the year with a regular season record of 12-7-10 and for the second year in a row won the Supporter's Shield, which goes to the club with the best record at the end of the year.

"I am proud of the team," head coach Robert Warzycha exclaimed after the match. "Sometimes the better team does not win, but that is the sport."

Columbus came into Thursday night's match behind the ball, literally, as they lost the first leg of the playoffs last week in Utah, 1-0. The Crew set up their defensive forces in the first leg of the series, but left their player with the most goals for the club, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, on the bench. Now they needed to outscore Real to move on to the next phase of the playoffs.

The Crew looked right off the bat to get that goal needed to equal the series. Within the first four minutes, the Crew had a corner and possession in the attacking half, but could not register a shot on goal. Head Coach Robert Warzycha had his big attacking players in his starting 11 that were not in the first leg, including Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the Crew's leading goal scorer for the 2009 campaign.

Will Hesmer came up big in the early going when Real Salt Lake's Javier Morales fed a streaking Andy Williams into the box, had Hesmer in a one-on-one, but Hesmer stuck his right foot out and was able to clear the ball away, despite getting Williams' cleats drown Hesmer's leg. RSL seemed to have fun and games on the night, when the Nordeke greeted Javier Morales with loud boos when he took a corner on the northeast side of the stadium. Morales put his hand up to his ear antagonizing the crowd.

Crew got their chances going again in the 19th minute when Alejandro Moreno was fouled as he made a run down the left wing. He was tripped up by RSL defender Jamison and Schelotto asked for a card after referee Baldomero Toledo called the foul. On the ensuing free kick, Schelotto put a rocket towards the goal from 45 yards out, took one bounce around the penalty spot and beat a diving RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando to his left side. Defender Eric Brunner went up for the ball, but never touched, giving Schelotto the unassisted free kick goal. The playoff leg was tied, 1-1.

Continued...

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