CARSON, Calif. -- A side's creative hub isn't typically known for playing defense. And they're certainly not expected to do the dirty work that every team needs to win games. Their responsibility is to fill up box scores and make highlight reel plays.
But in the Columbus Crew's 3-1 MLS Cup-winning victory against the New York Red Bulls, playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto could be seen making contributions both big and small, and they all added up to his being named the Most Valuable Player of MLS Cup 2008.
It was never more evident than in the 31st minute, when the Argentinean chased down what looked to be a lost cause. New York's Dave van den Bergh was set to shepherd the ball out of bounds near midfield and win a throw-in.
But Schelotto had other ideas, nicking the ball off the Red Bulls' midfielder, and releasing teammate Alejandro Moreno into the attacking third. When Moreno deposited his shot into the New York goal a few seconds later, Schelotto's little play became huge.
"His defending, he's always helping the team," said Crew head coach Sigi Schmid of Schelotto. "I've never had an issue with that, although I thought it was a bit odd when Robbie Rogers asked him to mark [New York forward John] Wolyniec in the box. That was a little over the top. But he does what he needs to do. He's got such great instincts ... and he had the presence and the vision to know where Alejandro was. It's those decisive moments that turn games and decide games."
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Schelotto's ability on the ball proved vital later in the match as well. His pinpoint delivery from a corner kick -- one that came just 87 seconds after Wolyniec's 51st-minute equalizer -- allowed Chad Marshall to score the eventual game-winning goal with a thumping header. And his clever chip over the New York defense in the 82nd minute resulted in Frankie Hejduk's game-clinching tally.
"I think we played a good second half," said Schelotto through a translator. "The first half was a bit more difficult. We were lucky to get that second goal off a corner kick. And after the second goal, we were much better than the other team. We knew that we were going to hold on tight for the win."
Schelotto's three assists were a record for an MLS Cup Final, and his six helpers in a single postseason tied the mark set by D.C. United's Marco Etcheverry in 1999 and equaled by Chicago's Ante Razov in 2000. Schelotto nearly capped off his day with a goal, but his drive in the 77th minute came back off the crossbar. He became the third player in league history to win both MLS MVP and MLS Cup MVP honors in the same year.
But even as the champagne was about to be opened in the Crew's triumphant locker room, Schelotto's willingness to defend from the front still drew approving nods from his teammates.
"It was good to see [Schelotto] step up to their backs, and win a couple of 50-50 balls," said Crew midfielder Brian Carroll. "And just make it difficult on them -- make them have to complete a difficult pass that they didn't want to."
Of course, this wasn't the first time that Schelotto has won a championship. He won a whopping 17 titles of various kinds in Argentina while playing for Boca Juniors. And when asked to compare this championship to the ones he won back in his native country, Schelotto refused to state a preference, saying the Crew's win "was just as important as the first."
But Sunday's triumph was still special for Schelotto, coming as it did with his old Boca coach, Carlos Bianchi, watching from the stands.
"Together again," remarked Schelotto. "And somehow, I felt like we weren't going to lose."
Given Schelotto's MVP performance, not a chance.
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