Crew glad to be home for second leg

COLUMBUS -- In order to make the MLS Cup Playoffs after a three-year absence, the Columbus Crew knew they had to vastly improve upon their .500 record at home in 2007.

The Crew did so in a dramatic manner and Saturday night in Crew Stadium they will know if their diligence has been rewarded.

After pulling out a 1-1 tie at Kansas City in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series last Saturday, the teams will cap the total-goals series in Columbus, where the Crew had an 11-2-2 mark, including a 7-0-2 run since June 7.

"It's pretty simple," forward Alejandro Moreno said. "We win and we're through. We understand it's our responsibility to carry the game."

There's more debate than in a presidential election over the fairness of a higher seed -- in this case, the Supporters' Shield winner starting a series on the road -- but after the Crew got the equalizer from reserve rookie forward Steven Lenhart in the second minute of stoppage time, Columbus is happy to have to deciding match in front of its fans.

"I've been a believer you always want to play the second game at home," coach Sigi Schmid said.

Just having home field is not enough to ensure the Crew will advance to the conference championship. Kansas City entered the match on a 5-1-1 run and had visions of taking a one-goal lead into Game 2 until Lenhart worked his late-match magic again. While he has five goals in limited duty, three have produced ties from the 87th minute on.

"He was the perfect guy for this type of game where the conditions are kind of tight. He can throw his body around and win rebounds," Moreno said. "It was a big goal for him, a big goal for the team and one you're going to need in order to be successful in the playoffs. We have a very good opportunity going home and doing the things we know how to do at home and trying to get a result."

Lenhart's goal alters the complexion of the series.

"It changes (Kansas City's) approach probably, more than anything," Schmid said. "If they had the lead they could come like 'Let's really sit in. Let's look to counter.' Now they have to play."

Because the Wizards won't be protecting a lead, the match should play more to the Crew's aggressive attack that has produced 51 goals. K.C. has 38 but only 15 in as many road matches.

Certainly getting off the tight field at CommunityAmerica Ballpark is a relief to the Crew.

"We created more chances but we couldn't buy a goal. They scored a great goal on a counter. We were getting close," Schmid said. "We've got to get better flank play. I don't think Robbie Rogers had his best game. Eddie Gaven didn't necessarily have his best game, either. With a little more space that will help us on the flanks. We still need to get Guillermo (Barros Schelotto) a little closer to Alejandro at times to help create more problems that way. On a bigger field we'll move the ball better. We just have to move it quicker."

Several of the Crew experienced their first playoff game and Schmid admitted that his team was unusually tight.

"It was good to get the nerves of the first playoff game out of the way," he said. "I think in Robbie's case there was a little bit of nerves at play. Gaven hasn't been in the playoffs for awhile. The most important thing was to get a game under our belt."

Moreno, a two-time MLS Cup champion, said the first game was what he expected.

"It was a battle. It was a struggle at times, perhaps not pretty but as long as were effective and efficient in getting the result we needed we're pretty content," he said.

Most importantly, he said, the Crew didn't lose their cool when Davy Arnaud put the Wizards ahead in the 53rd minute. Columbus has earned at least a tie in 10 of 17 games when it has allowed the first goal but the circumstances are different in the playoffs.

The Crew wanted to get the equalizer but realized going down two in an aggregate-goals series could be fatal.

"There's a cautious urgency where you're back going for the tie but at the same time you're trying to make sure you're not giving up anything in the back so you don't make a difficult score more of a uphill battle for the second leg," Moreno said. "We kept battling. We created some chances. Guillermo had a couple. Kevin Hartman made a couple of good saves on us."

If the Crew are going to take the next step toward their first MLS Cup they will have to battle history. Their playoff winless streak is at 0-2-4 since beating San Jose on Sept. 26, 2002, which was the only home postseason victory this decade. Since reaching the last of three consecutive conference finals in 1999, the Crew are 2-4-4 in the playoffs.