He kissed the glove that he just had shoved down inside his jock.
Batshit insane still seems to cover it.
Popular Messageboard Topics
advice arena district art artists Arts bands bars beer biking cars classes clintonville comedy concert Dancing development dining djs downtown events festivals film food free german village green happy hour jazz jobs kids live music movies music nightlife osu politics restaurants shopping short north theatre transit transportation tv volunteer wine more...
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Sports
Crew 2009 Season Discussion
-
FireEngine
Blacklick or Driving Park
Login to Send PM
Posted 1 year ago # | -
michaelcoyote
seabus
Login to Send PM
-
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
I am not liking our chances for tonight's game against Chicago. Too many people will be swapping places around the field. No Rogers, Marshall, and possibly Moreno. O'Rourke needs to go to the back line and Gaven back to the center, but am not sure if we have enough people to make those switches happen.
I won't be able to make it out to Claddagh (or Ruby's), but both should be pretty busy well before the 8pm kickoff (ESPN2 if you are watching from home)
Posted 1 year ago # | -
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
Crew 0 – Chicago 0 (Game 17 – July 11th)
Very little has separated the Crew and the Fire over the last couple of years. The teams have played to three straight ties in the regular season. Last night’s encounter was again a closely played affair. With first place on the line, neither team was able to grab hold of the game. In such a tight game, it would fall to individual efforts to make the difference. Keeper William Hesmer was up to the task of nullifying the few scoring chances the Fire was able to create.
Columbus, eager to get off to a good start and erase last week’s pathetic effort, came out strong. Without striker Alejandro Moreno, Eddie Gaven and Guillermo Barros Schelotto shouldered most of the load for the Crew. Gaven got open several times on the right side in the opening minutes creating several chances; unfortunately the Crew were unable to capitalize, Ekpo missed perhaps the best shot of a Gaven feed sending the ball well high and wide.
The Fire responded in the 25th minute with an attack and tree corner kicks in quick succession. Brian McBride had the best chance of the night stopped by an in form Hesmer. McBride’s shot was destined for the net, but Hesmer crossed the box to peek it past the post and keep the score at 0-0. It was just one of his career high 11 saves on the night as he kept the Crew in the game.
Both sides would have a couple of chances late in the half. In the 39th minute, Marco Pappa got free in the box and sent a shot screaming towards goal, but Hesmer was well positioned and easily caught the opportunity. The Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch would have to rely a little help to stop the best Crew chance of the night. Schelotto took a Garey cross and headed it off the post in stoppage time.
Chicago would come out in the second half strong in an attempt to only get their second win at home this year, but Hesmer and the Crew defense was again up to the task. Eric Brunner continued his strong play this year and Andy Iro played a much better game to shut down McBride and the Fire offense in the final third.
The Crew may have lost the initiative early in the second half; they would grab it back by bringing in offensive spark plug Steven Lenhart. He was able to provide an outlet for the midfield and even got on the end of some excellent chances, including a goal that was called back due to offside. Lenhart took a punch to the face in the effort from keeper Busch.
Columbus would add to the pressure late. Schelotto was forced out due to a hamstring injury, but Jed Zayner was up to the task of working the right side of midfield. The normally defense minded Zayner would spark a couple of late chances on the right side, but nothing would come of it as both teams in the end had to settle for a draw.
Columbus showed signs of life with a spirited effort on the road, but were unable to take first place yet again. The team now turns its focus to next week’s home game against Real Salt Lake. The Crew will be missing players once again. Rogers and Marshall will be with the National Team. Offensive cogs Schelotto and Moreno are currently nursing injuries. If the Crew are to resume their march to the playoffs, it will be on the backs of their unheralded reserves.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
berdawn
Weinland Park
Login to Send PM
it's not up yet, but one SHOULD be able to watch the crew meet the president at this link:
http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=116397979680&h=Cuvp3&u=vQrn_&ref=mf
Posted 1 year ago # | -
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
I loved seeing all the old gang back together. I know you aren't supposed to be able to go back again, but that trip to the White House brought back the (recent) memories of that team. The 2008 Crew was a special team.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
sixby9is42
Login to Send PM
:-D
Posted 1 year ago # | -
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
Real Salt Lake 1 - Crew 3 (Game 18 - July 18th)
Last night, the Columbus Crew had a chance to make history, get closer to the playoffs, and prove that they aren’t a one-man team. With a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, the Crew tied the home undefeated streak, got a valuable three points, and did it all without the injured Schelotto.
The six missing Crew players necessitated a creative lineup sheet. The Crew changed up the formation and had a surprise addition to the lineup. Duncan Oughton made his first start in over a year and the young forward line of Jason Garey and Steven Lenhart were called upon to lead the offense. Warzycha’s changes paid off as the new additions to the lineup made a game changing impact.
The Crew’s brilliant night started a little rough as they struggled with the lineup and formation changes. Salt Lake found space down the flanks and was able to threaten the Crew goal. The team looked disorganized and unable to cope with Salt Lake’s speed.
Despite the pressure, it would be the Crew that would strike first from the right side. Oughton was able to find an overlapping Frankie Hejduk. Hejduk’s cross rifled into the box and the resulting RSL clearance fell right to Steven Lenhart. Lenhart coolly finished into the left side of the goal from 10 yards out to put the Crew up 1-0 in the 23rd minute.
The Crew would not wait long to jump on Salt Lake. This time the pressure came from the left side and a cross from Eddie Gaven. Steven Lenhart got a head to the ball, popping it up near the 6 yard box. Both Lenhart and Nick Rimando, the Salt Lake keeper, went up for the ball but it fell at the feet of Jason Garey who slammed it home in the 31st minute to make the score 2-0 Crew.
Salt Lake would try to claw back. The first chance was a shot by Robbie Russell that went just wide in the 36th. Hesmer stopped a shot from the top of the box by Clint Mathis and Movsisyan’s shot was just high before halftime. Newly acquired forward Pablo Campos nearly put Salt Lake on the scoreboard 30 seconds into the second half, but his open shot dribbled just wide right of the goal. With Salt Lake knocking on the door; the Crew soon countered with a goal that effectively ended the game.
The Crew would conjure up some Schelotto magic for their third goal in the 51st minute. The forward duo would combine with Oughton to create the third goal. Garey laid the ball back to Oughton and took off towards the Salt Lake goal. Oughton’s pass out of midfield found a well covered Lenhart. Surrounded by three defenders, Lenhart back healed to Garey who found himself with an open path to goal. He smoothly put the ball past a stranded Rimando and the rout was on.
With the result in little doubt, the Crew controlled possession throughout the rest of the game avoiding the trouble the last couple of times Columbus held a commanding lead at home, with Kansas City come close to stealing points and Chicago coming from two down in the last five minutes to tie the Crew.
The only hiccup was when Real Salt Lake and Rafael Cox would get a goal back in the 77th minute to make it 3-1. That was as close as they would come, as the Crew would bring in Kevin Burns and Jed Zayner late in the game to seal the victory and earn three very important points to stay one point behind conference leaders Chicago with 12 games left in the regular season.
With the Crew a point away from the Conference lead but also sitting on the playoff cutoff line, last night’s game wasn’t a must win, but falling farther behind in the playoff and conference race would have been damaging. Missing five starters and their four leading scorers might have been a recipe for a tie or their first loss at home in 18 games, but the reserves came up big to keep the Crew in the hunt for another conference championship and more importantly build confidence throughout the team as they face a playoff race and CONCACAF Champions League in the coming months.
Nothing is coming easy as the team defends their MLS title, but each member of the team is showing they can once again rise to the occasion. First year coach, Robert Warzycha is growing into his role as head man. The reserves are showing that they can fill in when needed. With the talent in the starting lineup on this squad, they are starting to look like the championship contenders people expected at the start of the season.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
sixby9is42
Login to Send PM
How about that?! Ekpo really gave the Crew a boost when he came in. Lenhart and Garey FTW! :-D
1st in the Eastern Conference!
Posted 1 year ago # | -
michaelcoyote
seabus
Login to Send PM
-
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
Toronto 2 - Crew 3 (Game 19 - July 25th)
Championship teams are targets. Every other team is going to take their best shot to knock out the champs. The Crew have suffered injuries, dipping form, and mental lapses. They have taken shot after shot from opposing teams and it shows with late leads dropped and an awful lot of ties. Saturday, however, the Crew looked like the champs once again. They had players out, took Toronto’s best shot, gave up leads, but instead of succumbing, they rose up as a team and sealed an incredible come from behind win.
The Crew looked good early as they moved the ball with short tight passing. Toronto was slow to adapt to the pressure from the Crew wings. The offense flowed as Jason Garey and Steven Lenhart combined well.
The strike duo looked on form, but the first goal would come from the defense working well with the midfield to create a well-worked goal. Right back Frankie Hejduk found Danny O’Rourke towards the right corner with a clear path to goal. O’Rourke closed in on goal and drew the Toronto defense on to him, dropping a last second pass to midfielder Eddie Gaven who sidefooted the ball into the goal. Giving the Crew a well earned 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
Toronto would not wait to strike back, finding Marvell Wynne on the right side. Wynne took on left back Gino Padula and drew in center back Andy Iro then centering the ball past the two Crew defenders. The ball bounced free right to goal scoring impresario DeWayne DeRosario to tie the game at 1-1 in the 35th minute.
The game would be tied entering halftime, with the Crew having the better half. Toronto started the second half on fire, spurred on by a gaffe by Iro in the defensive third that gave Toronto a nearly wide-open path to goal. Chad Barrett picked up the loose ball and played a quick one-two with Ali Gerba that ended with Gerba’s free shot at goal from 10 yards out to make it 2-1 Toronto in the 49th minute.
Toronto started controlling the game, playing confidently in midfield and protecting the lead. The Crew looked shaken by the surprise goal. Coach Warzycha looked to his bench to shake up the game, bringing in Emmanuel Ekpo and Adam Moffat.
Ekpo’s speed played off immediately as Toronto started looking to bunker and protect their lead. Moffat really enjoyed the subs role against Toronto as he comes back from injury. “That’s when you want to come in, you can make a huge impact on a game.” With Warzycha’s subs changing the momentum, the offense started creating more and more chances.
The two strikers would come up big again. Lenhart would take a Brian Carroll pass on the left side of goal, shield off his defender, and punch it past the Toronto keeper to level the game at 2-2 in the 76th minute.
Garey looked at Lenhart’s goal as the one that spurred the comeback “After they had scored we were just down a little bit. His goal was so big, got us back in the game.”
The tie game setup one of the greatest finishes in Crew history. Tied going into the last minute of stoppage time, Frankie Hejduk took a ball on the right touchline and rifled in a perfect cross. Jason Garey slipped his marker and found himself with a free header, and finished it to make it 3-2, sealing the comeback.
Reserve forwards Lenhart and Garey have now come up big in back to back weeks. They now have five goals between them in those two games and six total on the year. Lenhart explained a reserve player’s mentality “If were called on, we’ll play.” The preparation of the staff and players has been seen on the field.
The Crew got a valuable three points and a dramatic win to ending the week in first place for the first time this year. The Crew set an unbeaten streak at home record at 19 games. They have now won two straight without leading scorer Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The Crew captain Hejduk summed it up “It’s all about team here.”
The Crew bench has stepped up big, allowing the Crew to establish a winning mentality without Schelotto, Rogers, Marshall, and Moreno. With 11 league games, 6 Champions League games, and up to 4 playoff games left, the unsung role players will have to step up and perform if the Crew are going to keep pace with the rest of the league. After last night, it looks like the Crew have found the reserves, role players, and stars are coming together into a team with championship form.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
I was reminded last night how much I want to see Toronto lose. Sending them back home 7 hours on the bus to think about it. I did see this tweet from TFC forward Danny Dichio:
To say I'm disappointed, would be an understatement! And we hav'nt even been travelling an hour yet on the bus!!
Posted 1 year ago # | -
jkostelac
University District
Login to Send PM
I wanted to go but I had so much going on last night. Thanks for the awesome recaps, way better than any major sports news outlet on the web.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
Crew 1 – Colorado 0 (Game 20 – August 1st)
The Crew have had their troubles on the road, with only one win this year coming into last night’s game. Columbus has also struggled mightily in Colorado. And true to form the Crew struggled on offense, only getting off five shots. The defense was under fire. Hesmer made 7 saves and the Rapids had 16 total shots. Instead of taking another loss on the road or recording a tie that would have dropped them to second, the Crew squeaked out a 1-0 win in game they were thoroughly outplayed.
Both teams struggled with possession in the first half. Passes went long in the rarified Denver air; turnovers interrupted much of the build up. Colorado would have the better chances in the first half as speedy forward Omar Cummings would find success. He broke down Padula midway through the half, but Hesmer smothered his cross. Cummings would take a long pass, breaking past Marshall to get to it, but Hesmer again handled his shot, in what would be a reoccurring theme.
Cummings and Colorado could not turn their sporadic chances into goals; the Crew and Chad Marshall would only need one shot to take the lead in the 39th minute. Setting up 22 yards out of goal, Rogers and Marshall stood over a free kick. Marshall struck a knuckling ball off of Rogers tap pass. The ball dipped past the Colorado defense, and Matt Pickens, screened by his defense, was late to block the ball. The Crew were up 1-0 from the foot of one of the most unusual free kick specialists, defender Chad Marshall.
The second half would be more of the same; Colorado would pile on the pressure and the Crew fighting to withstand the onslaught. The first salvo would come less that 10 minutes after the intermission. Rapids winger, Colin Clark’s lofted cross found Cummings. His header was ripped towards goal, but again Hesmer pulled it off the line. Cummings would later find the ball drop to his feet, but his shot would spin just left of the post.
Colorado would continue to possess the ball, but some key coaching changes and Ugo Ihemelu’s two yellows sapped Colorado’s ability to get the equalizing goal. Warzycha was quick to adapt to the Rapid’s pressure and brought in Ekpo, Moreno, and Moffat for fresh legs. There were no outstanding runs or moments of individual brilliance, but each would ease the pressure on the defense and allow Columbus to kill off the game and sneak away with a win.
Looking back, Columbus had no business getting three points in Colorado. They failed to sustain any offensive pressure, couldn’t maintain possession, and gave the Rapids plenty of chances to come back. The Bash Brothers looked out of ideas, wing play was nonexistent, and the defense gave up plenty of shots. It took the talents of Hesmer in goal, and a little luck, but the Crew grabbed a valuable three points.
These are games that champions win and just like last week they did. It has taken over half a season, but the Crew are repeatedly proving that last year was not a fluke and the Crew are once again one of the class teams in MLS and a serious MLS Cup contender.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
jimbach
Weinland Park
Login to Send PM
Looking at the stats, we had zero shots. Zero. Yet we won.
This is how championship seasons are built.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
Crew 3 - San Jose 0 (Game 21 - August 8th)
After coming off a win in Colorado where the Crew were outplayed but squeaked through with a win, the team had a chance to make a statement against a San Jose team coming off a big win last week and trying to climb back into the playoff race. For 60 minutes, it looked like San Jose was going to hold the Crew to a tie or even sneak out the win, but some timely subs and a much stronger effort allowed Columbus to secure their fourth straight win going away, defeating the Quakes 3-0.
Coach Warzycha rolled out the same lineup that defeated Colorado last week as defender Frankie Hejduk and reigning MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto were out with injury. Columbus looked like they could use their offensive maestro as the team continually sputtered in the early going. The team struggled with possession in the midfield as the Quakes were the ones with the offensive pressure.
As the midfield struggled and the team played direct with passes over the top throughout the first half, the Crew had few solid chances. Lenhart and Garey were disconnected from midfield and were unable to hold up the ball. Rogers and Gaven weren’t able to get much going on the wings. The team simply wasn’t able to break down the San Jose defense. The only consolation from a sluggish first half was that the defense played well and kept the Quakes off the board to keep the first half score at 0-0.
Coming out of the locker room, the Crew tried to break down the Quakes to no avail. It wasn’t until Warzycha went to the subs bench did the game change. Moreno and Ekpo entered the game and made an immediate impact. Ekpo and Rogers started driving into the space left by San Jose’s midfield. The team was about to shift into a higher gear, one that the Quakes couldn’t match.
The first goal was a great combination. Lenhart had tracked down a ball and nodded it to Ekpo on the right side. Ekpo sent his cross high to Rogers on the far side of goal. Rogers’ header popped up and found Moreno a couple of yards out of goal to make it 1-0 Crew in the 69th minute.
Columbus wouldn’t wait long to extend the lead, doubling it in the 73rd minute. Ekpo sprung the counterattack from the middle of the field. He then found Rogers streaking to the left of him. Rogers drove into the open space and past the defender. San Jose tried to clean up the ball, but it ricocheted back toward the goal. Rogers came onto the ball took one touch to the left and rifled a left footed shot past the keeper Joe Cannon to make it 2-0 Crew.
Columbus would seal the game up just over 10 minutes later on a corner kick and a Moffat header to make it 3-0 in the 86th. After a droll first 60 minutes, the team scored a flurry of goals in the last half hour.
Again the turning point of the game was the depth on the bench. With the team sputtering, Warzycha inserted instant energy in the form of Moreno and Ekpo. The return of Adam Moffat will help during Carroll’s absence next week for yellow card accumulation.
The Crew has now won 4 games in a row and are undefeated in 7 games. They currently have the best record in the league and have two top players returning to the lineup next week against the last team they lost to, FC Dallas.
The team has been extremely impressive in scraping out wins and putting together one solid game after another. This was not as lopsided as the score looked and the result could have been easily been a tie or worst, but this is a team brimming with confidence at just the right time. Every player is playing their part, Warzycha is developing into a good head coach quickly, and you can sense that this team is hungry to repeat.
Posted 1 year ago # | -
pjguldan
Login to Send PM
Get the Video Plugins Posted 1 year ago # |
