Past disappointment fuels Crew

COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Crew are already 17 points better than last season and have clinched the Supporters' Shield as the best team in the regular season, but in a strange turn they have less to play for in the final two games than a year ago when Columbus faced games at New England and D.C. United.

In 2007, the Crew were in a desperate chase for the last playoff spot. They got off to a 1-4-6 start but were 6-7-4 over the next 17 games to pull within striking distance. The Crew needed wins in the last two matches and help along the way.

Columbus did its part by rallying for a 3-2 victory against New England on a goal in the 86th minute by substitute forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto -- yes, the same Schelotto who is in the running for MVP this season. Unfortunately for the Crew, while they were downing the Revolution, the Chicago Fire drew with D.C. United to eliminate the Crew.

In the season finale, the Crew beat D.C. United 3-2 behind a pair of goals from midfielder Robbie Rogers to finish 9-11-10. It was a frustrating end for the Crew but coach Sigi Schmid said the genesis of this season's success came out of the last two games.

"It definitely helped. Our back was against the wall and we had to win in order to give ourselves a chance," he said. "We won on the road in difficult places against a team that won the Supporters' Shield in D.C. United and a good team that went to the MLS Cup Final in New England."

Goalkeeper William Hesmer remembers the sting of missing the playoffs.

"We were all disappointed once we were eliminated after the New England game but we ended up winning, putting up a good effort. We fought on the road against a good team. To play that well and get a win and then find out you've been eliminated was disappointing," he said. "You know what you left out there. You know you're a better team than what you proved through the year. We went into that next game still wanting to prove we were a good team and building for the next year. Also, by that last game guys knew that we didn't make the playoffs and changes were going to be made and we're playing for their jobs."

Rogers said the last two outcomes were bittersweet. "It was a sign we had the talent. We had the team to do it. We had the players to do it. We just needed to find the right mix," he said.

Getting a grasp on exactly how much momentum was gained is an inexact science but missing the playoffs a third consecutive year provided plenty of incentive in the offseason.

"For us, it was really simple. The motivation was there -- it said you guys simply weren't good enough," Hesmer said.

Schmid contends the Crew could have been dangerous had they just been able to find a way into the postseason. His team finished the season with three consecutive road wins and Schelotto was getting back to form after missing three matches because of injury.

"Our team knew last year that the way they were playing had we gotten to the playoffs we would have scared some people," Schmid said. "That confidence we had, we talked about that at the beginning of this year what we accomplished last year and building upon that and we were able to carry it on."

There's no telling whether the Crew got more motivation from not making the playoffs or would have been inspired by continuing the season.

"Maybe it would have helped us last year because the guys might have had that taste of the playoffs," midfielder Eddie Gaven said. "Maybe not. It gives guys that little extra push because we didn't make it last year.

"We ended last year really well. That carried over to this year. This team has pretty much been on fire throughout the whole year. We want to keep it going in the playoffs. We don't want to take our foot off the pedal."

The Crew are 16-6-6 and have not lost since Aug. 2 (7-0-2) but have nothing at stake as far as postseason positioning, having clinched home-field advantage. They travel to New York on Saturday and play host to D.C. United Oct. 26 when the Supporters' Shield trophy will be presented.

"The goal is to keep on playing well like the last nine games," Gaven said. "We've played really good defense and taken our chances well. We don't want to let down these last two games and go into the playoffs in a rut."