Back on Track?

A Promising First Half by the Crew Ends with a Disappointing 2-2 Draw

COLUMBUS, OH - April 25, 2009 - The Crew looked to put their troubles behind them with a solid performance against the visiting Chicago Fire. Many of the 16,628 fans were hoping that this might be the case. The Crew started aggressively, spending a great deal of the time on Chicago's end of the pitch. Columbus was able to earn 4 corner kicks in the first 15 minutes alone, but those did not translate into goals. Former Crew keeper Jon Busch responded well to the pressure. However, Chad Marshall, assisted by Guillermo Barros Schelotto, was able to get through in the 25th minute. This assertive style of play might be the answer to the Crew's sluggish start.

The assault continued with an Alejandro Moreno goal in the 34th minute. Moreno took advantage of a mistake by Busch, wheeling around defenders to score. The continued effort by Moreno was quite a sight to see; he truly deserved to score. The half ended with consecutive corner kicks from the Fire, but no change in score. The Crew had to be pleased with their performance in the first half of play.

All of the good will and hope went "out the door" after halftime. A questionable red card for defender Gino Padula in the 57th minute turned the momentum against the Crew. Chicago was energized by the penalty and looked to take advantage of an undermanned Crew. In particular, Cuauhtemoc Blanco rebounded from an ineffective first half and looked true to form in the last forty-five minutes. Columbus relied on solid defense and an adult game of "keep away" to manage the Chicago offense. All of that effort was not enough. Disaster struck in the 86th and 88th minutes with goals by Chicago's Brian McBride and Gonzalo Segares, respectively. Victory was so close, but still out of reach for the Crew. "The red card changed the game" was a common theme echoed by the coaches in the post-game interviews.

The home crowd, which was hostile to Blanco in particular, came to life during the match. No matter how hard they tried the crowd could not deliver a win and three points for Columbus. The disappointment of another draw was clearly evident for the fans and players alike. The Crew must find a way to get back to championship form and out of the bottom of the standings. Columbus, who has had its share of injuries and bad luck, must put their ideas into action soon in order to turn the season around.

The Crew look to put an end to their winless streak as they face Toronto FC in the second leg of the Trillium Cup on May 2. Columbus will face a lively crowd at BMO Field as enthusistic fans fill the stadium to capacity for this important rivalry game.

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