Saturday, November 29, 2008

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title


CARSON, Calif. -- The best team during the regular season claimed Major League Soccer's ultimate prize on Sunday, and the league's best player, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, turned in a performance for the ages, as the Columbus Crew earned their first-ever MLS Cup with a 3-1 win against a game New York Red Bulls side in MLS Cup 2008 at The Home Depot Center.

Crew forward Alejandro Moreno opened the scoring in the 31st minute, slotting a tight-angled shot past Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero. New York equalized early in the second half through John Wolyniec, but Chad Marshall's header from a Schelotto corner kick restored the Crew's lead 87 seconds later. Schelotto then earned his MLS Cup record third assist in the 82nd minute, with his pass allowing Frankie Hejduk to cap the scoring.

Schelotto was named the MLS Cup Most Valuable Player for his record-setting performance, becoming the third player in league history to win league MVP honors as well as in the MLS Cup Final, joining Tony Meola (2000) and Carlos Ruiz (2002).

The match started with New York inviting Columbus to camp out in their half, and the Crew were only too happy to oblige. An attempt to isolate attacker Robbie Rogers on the left wing saw him taken down by Chris Leitch after just four minutes, earning the Red Bulls defender a yellow card.

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

NEWSMLS Cup recap
• Crew capture first MLS Cup
• MLS Cup Notes: Crew win Cup
• Schelotto named MLS Cup MVP
• Hejduk adjusts style in MLS Cup
• Lewis: Right team took Cup
• Davis: Tactics trumped by talent
• Wolyniec rewards Osorio's faith
• Red Bulls waste strong first half
• Cup win sweet for Crew's Moreno
• Red Bulls can't dodge final dagger
• Crew win Cup with team effort
• Crew notebook: Trio hope to return
• Red Bulls notebook: Still proud
MLS Cup Sights & Sounds

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Highlights: CLB 3, NY 1

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

ExtraTime: MLS Cup Final

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew top Red Bulls, 3-1

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew celebrate MLS Cup win

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew locker room celebration

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

MLS Cup trophy ceremony

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Schelotto postgame interview

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew players react

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew press conference

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Red Bulls press conference

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

One-Touch spotlight: Angel

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

One-Touch spotlight: Schelotto

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Hejduk's late clincher

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Marshall's game-winner

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Wolyniec's equalizer

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Moreno puts Crew on top
Nov. 22 headlines
• Tactical surprises unlikely
• NY native Gaven still growing
• Sidelined Stammler supportive
Nov. 21 headlines
• Carroll is Crew's unsung hero
• Goldthwaite stabilizes Red Bulls
• Crew expect strong support
Nov. 20 headlines
• Backline is Crew's backbone
• Angel key to Red Bulls' success
• LA weather sweet as Crew train
SIGHTS & SOUNDS

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

State of the League Address

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Extra Time: Red Bulls preview

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Extra Time: Crew preview

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew arrive in Los Angeles

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew practice Thursday

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Red Bulls talk Cup

Crew capture first-ever MLS Cup title

Crew talk beards, MLS Cup

Shortly thereafter, Rogers had the Crew supporters on their feet when he slotted home a Schelotto free kick. But Rogers was correctly adjudged to have been offside, nullifying the tally.

The Red Bulls then showed their ability to strike quickly on the counter two minutes later when a flowing move involving Wolyniec and Dave van den Bergh resulted in the Dutchman's cross being headed out for a corner by Crew defender Gino Padula.

Van den Bergh's involvement increased from there. Twice in a three-minute span his crosses found Wolyniec in the box, but on neither occasion was the Red Bulls forward able to get a clean shot off. Wolyniec did manage to get his feet set after being set up by Dane Richards, but his shot was well over the bar.

More of New York's play then started to go through Richards. The Jamaican shook loose down the right wing in the 23rd minute, only to see his cross miss everyone. Richards then duplicated his effort the right flank six minutes later, leaving three Crew defenders in his wake. His centering feed found Angel wide open in the box, but the Colombian volleyed just over the bar.

With New York seemingly gaining the upper hand, the Crew gave the Red Bulls a taste of their own counterattacking medicine to break on top in the 31st minute. Schelotto picked van den Bergh's pocket on the right touchline, and his quick pass forward found Moreno isolated against Diego Jimenez.

With seemingly little angle after running at the New York defender, Moreno unleashed a shot from the right side of the area that appeared to catch Cepero a bit out of position, and it just snuck inside the far post, giving the Crew a 1-0 lead.

It marked the first time during this postseason that the Red Bulls had trailed as they allowed their first goal in 206 playoff minutes, and while the half ended with the same score, it wasn't much longer before they pulled level.

A mazy run from Richards in the 51st minute, cutting inside from the right after receiving a ball in space, saw him evade four Columbus defenders, and his clever through ball to Wolyniec allowed the Red Bulls forward to nudge the ball past Hesmer for the equalizer.

But the Red Bulls were barely done celebrating when they found themselves trailing again. Schelotto's inch-perfect corner kick was headed with authority by Marshall, leaving Cepero with no chance. It was the second goal in as many games for the MLS Defender of the Year, both coming off Schelotto services on set pieces, and the 87-second gap between goals was the third shortest in MLS Cup history.

Richards continued to be a menace on the right wing, playing almost as a third forward. In the 63rd minute, his point-blank shot from Kevin Goldthwaite's long throw was well-saved by Hesmer. Six minutes later the New York midfielder drew a foul from Padula that earned the Crew defender a yellow card.

Schelotto then came within inches of making the game safe in the 77th minute. A centering pass from Moreno found the Argentinean playmaker in acres of space at the top of the box, but his curling shot struck the crossbar, and the Red Bulls were still alive.

With 12 minutes remaining, New York head coach Juan Carlos Osorio tried to turn the match around, bringing in Jorge Rojas for Luke Sassano. But it was Columbus who stepped up their game, and once again it was Schelotto at the heart of the action.

With the reigning MVP apparently bottled up at the top of the box, his deft chip over the top of the New York defense found Hejduk in stride, and his looping header over the onrushing Cepero made the score 3-1, clinching matters for the Crew.

All that was left was to give Schelotto his due, and that came in stoppage time when his substitution was met with rapturous applause by the Crew faithful. That roar was exceeded only at the final whistle, when the yellow-clad Columbus fans massed at the north end of the stadium could officially celebrate their first league championship.

Ching leads Dynamo past Firpo

Ching leads Dynamo past Firpo


HOUSTON -- It doesn't exactly make up for a loss in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, but the Houston Dynamo's 1-0 win against CD Luis Angel Firpo Wednesday night at Robertson Stadium will help ease the pain of what is sure to be a long winter.

Brian Ching scored the only goal of the game in the 13th minute and goalkeeper Pat Onstad made five saves, leading the Dynamo to the quarterfinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League.

With their second win of group play, the Dynamo leapfrogged El Salvador's Firpo in Group B and became the only MLS team to advance out of group play. Although their opponent will not be known until Dec. 10, the Dynamo will host the first match on Feb. 23, 24 or 25.

Thanks to Hurricane Ike postponing the match in September, the Dynamo had a chance to exorcise the proverbial demons more than two weeks after a 3-0 home loss to MLS runner-up New York, ending their bid for a third consecutive league title.

It was a sloppy, hard-fought match that featured eight yellow cards and two red cards.

Wednesday was the Dynamo's 48th competitive match of the season, the most ever in one year for an MLS club, and the team finished the 2008 slate with 19 wins, nine losses and 20 ties in all competitions.

In the opening quarter of the match, the Dynamo controlled play and had several fruitless corner kicks before Ching got the team on the board.

Dwayne De Rosario sent a bending corner kick toward the net, and Ching timed it perfectly, heading a shot toward the top of the goal.

Firpo goalkeeper Juan Jose Gomez was playing a bit too deep and he got a piece of the shot as leapt up. But instead of knocking it away for a save, Gomez just pushed Ching's shot into the net behind the crossbar.

With defender Wade Barrett out of the starting lineup, Ching wore the captain's band Wednesday for the second time this season. The last time he wore it, on May 31 in MLS play against New York, Ching scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 Dynamo win.

Nate Jaqua, who was selected earlier in the day by Seattle Sounders FC in the 2008 MLS expansion draft, had a good chance in the 35th minute to give Houston a 2-0 lead, but he could not pull the trigger when he had possession at the top of the box.

In the 37th minute, Firpo had their first legitimate scoring chance of the match when Patricio Gomez had a great look from eight yards out against Onstad. Patricio waited on a perfect cross from Christian Sanchez, but Onstad read the play and made the save.

Corey Ashe nearly gave Houston a 2-0 lead in the 40th minute when a tough-angle shot on the far side edge of the box, and De Rosario had a good look in stoppage time, but his laser from 25 feet out was easily swallowed by Gomez.

In their first meeting in San Salvador, the Dynamo struck first and saw Firpo come back in the second half. It was more of the save in Houston, as Onstad was at his best early in the second half when he quashed two quick Firpo scoring chances.

First, in the 54th minute, Fernando Leguizamon fired a quick shot in the middle of the box, but Onstad made the stop.

Two minutes later, it was Leguizamon again. This time, flying down the far side, the Argentinean forward bounced a shot toward the net that Onstad had to dive to his left to stop.

Jaqua's Houston career officially came to an end in the 68th minute when he was replaced by Kei Kamara. Jaqua had four goals and four assists in 14 games with the Dynamo in 2008 after returning to the club from Austria.

Houston had to play most of the last 14 minutes a man down, when defender Eddie Robinson was sent off with a straight red card.

But substitute Carlos Calderon saw a second yellow card of the match in the 91st minute, evening things up, and Firpo was not able to muster another scoring chance in the closing minutes.

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup


CARSON, Calif. -- It's not much of a secret of what makes the Columbus Crew the best team in Major League Soccer.

Take a crafty veteran coach in Sigi Schmid. Add a clever playmaker in Guillermo Barros Scheletto and mix it with an up-and-coming defender in Chad Marshall, a wise right fullback and team captain Frankie Hejduk and a talented supporting cast that can do a little damage itself.

Sometimes the best teams don't win. For example, the two-time defending champion Houston Dynamo could not get out of the first round of the playoffs against the New York Red Bulls.

On Sunday, the best and deserving team held the Philip F. Anschutz trophy high at The Home Depot Center as the MLS champions. After 12 long seasons of getting disappointed in the Eastern Conference semifinals and most recently as a non-playoff side, the Crew finally took a victory lap for the last game of the MLS season. Actually, it was a partial lap, as they took the new 43-lb. trophy to celebrate in front of their faithful.

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

NEWSMLS Cup recap
• Crew capture first MLS Cup
• MLS Cup Notes: Crew win Cup
• Schelotto named MLS Cup MVP
• Hejduk adjusts style in MLS Cup
• Lewis: Right team took Cup
• Davis: Tactics trumped by talent
• Wolyniec rewards Osorio's faith
• Red Bulls waste strong first half
• Cup win sweet for Crew's Moreno
• Red Bulls can't dodge final dagger
• Crew win Cup with team effort
• Crew notebook: Trio hope to return
• Red Bulls notebook: Still proud
MLS Cup Sights & Sounds

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Highlights: CLB 3, NY 1

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

ExtraTime: MLS Cup Final

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew top Red Bulls, 3-1

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew celebrate MLS Cup win

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew locker room celebration

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

MLS Cup trophy ceremony

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Schelotto postgame interview

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew players react

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew press conference

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Red Bulls press conference

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

One-Touch spotlight: Angel

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

One-Touch spotlight: Schelotto

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Hejduk's late clincher

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Marshall's game-winner

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Wolyniec's equalizer

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Moreno puts Crew on top
Nov. 22 headlines
• Tactical surprises unlikely
• NY native Gaven still growing
• Sidelined Stammler supportive
Nov. 21 headlines
• Carroll is Crew's unsung hero
• Goldthwaite stabilizes Red Bulls
• Crew expect strong support
Nov. 20 headlines
• Backline is Crew's backbone
• Angel key to Red Bulls' success
• LA weather sweet as Crew train
SIGHTS & SOUNDS

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

State of the League Address

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Extra Time: Red Bulls preview

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Extra Time: Crew preview

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew arrive in Los Angeles

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew practice Thursday

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Red Bulls talk Cup

Lewis: Right team emerged with Cup

Crew talk beards, MLS Cup

The Crew led the way from start to finish over an eight-month span, kicking off the season with a 2-0 win against Toronto FC on March 29 and completing it with the best way possible -- a victory in the MLS Cup Final, a solid 3-1 triumph against the Red Bulls.

Columbus became the first Supporters' Shield winner to win the MLS Cup since the 2002 Los Angeles Galaxy accomplished the feat. The coach of that Galaxy side? One Sigi Schmid.

It certainly was no coincidence that the Crew did as well as they did this season.

"We found different ways to win at various times throughout the season, individual play through this guy next to me," said Schmid, referring to Schelotto. "Guillermo Barros Schelotto was tremendous. And other individuals stepping up at times was excellent as well."

On Friday, Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel said the game would decided by mistakes.

As it turned out, he was right. The Crew made a minimal amount.

Schelotto, who plays somewhere between midfield and forward and sometimes in a league of his own, made the Red Bulls pay dearly for theirs.

In fact, each of his assists came through a different way.

His first, which set up Alejandro Moreno's goal in the 31st minute, picking up a loose ball that Red Bulls midfielder Dave van den Bergh thought was out of bounds. Schelotto fed Moreno down the right side.

"He does what needs to do," Schmid said. "And he has great instincts. He stole a ball that was going out of bounds. He's got the presence and vision to know where Alejandro was and to react and play very quickly. And it's those decisive moments that turn games and decide games."

The second goal came off a corner kick as Marshall, the defender of the year, nailed it from six yards past goalkeeper Danny Cepero in the 53rd minute, only two minutes after John Wolyniec equalized. It turned into a boost for the Crew and a backbreaker for the Red Bulls.

"Give credit to Schelotto," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. "I believe he is the most effective player in the league on set plays."

"That kind of put a dagger into us for about 15-20 minutes," Red Bulls midfielder Dave Van den Bergh of the quick goal.

To top off a magnificent afternoon, Schelotto demonstrated that sometimes you don't have to put too much mustard on the ball by chipping it to Hejduk, who headed home the insurance goal in the 82nd minute.

Quite fittingly, he added the MLS Cup MVP award to his burgeoning award collection, which also includes the regular season MVP.

As for the Red Bulls, it was a great run while it lasted. They played hard, especially in the first half. They dominated play, but Columbus walked into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

"I'm really proud of what we achieved this year," team captain and striker Juan Pablo Angel said. "If anyone told us at the end of the season, after the problems that we had, that we would be in the final, I would sign right away. That doesn't mean I'm happy because we lost the final. I'm devastated because although we were playing against the best team this year we felt could get a better result today."

Winning the cup in the stadium where he had guided the Galaxy certainly was vindication for Schmid, whom many felt he was unjustly dismissed as coach even with the team in first place in the Western Conference in August 2004.

"It's a very emotional moment for me winning the game here in L.A. in front of family and friends," Schmid said. "And to be honest, in a town that I was fired in. So it meant an awful lot."

Schmid proved that you can go home again in triumph -- and with the best professional soccer team in the United States. There's no doubt about that.