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Man. U's Champions League victory draws a bigger crowd than the Crew despite Buck a Brat Night.

Crew Preview -- New England Revolution 5/24 (Home) -- Eastern Conference rival New England (5-3-1), which is on the Crew's heels, storms into town Saturday night at 7:30 riding a 2 game winning streak. The matchup will be Fox Soccer Channel's national game. The Crew is unbeaten in Columbus. That plus Buck a Brat Night and a Memorial Day weekend forecast of sunshine and 70+ degrees should cause fans to turn out in droves ... am I right?!? New England has eight players who have scored goals this year, but none more than two (Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi). GK Matt  Reis has 25 saves (9 games), 3 shutouts and a 1.22 Goals Against Average. That compares somewhat equally with Columbus keeper Wil Hesmer's 35 saves (8 games), 3 shutouts and 1.12 GAA, though Reis of course has taken two more losses. New England lists only reserve (1 game played) F Taylor Twillman on the injury report. Adam Moffat, Duncan Oughton and Stefani Miglioranzi are all "out" for the Crew. Moffat had started the first 6 games at MF with two goals, but is battling a right knee meniscus tear. D Gino Padula (three games started, 246 minutes) is questionable with a left MCL strain. UEFA Champions League Final (5/21 6:10 pm) -- Manchester United has just defeated Chelsea on penalty kicks (6-5) in Moscow in a final that had ended tied 1-1. To me this begs the question of why such important matches are settled in the end by not playing soccer, but by playing a different game of "penalty kicks". I'd play sudden death until it's over as in the NHL playoffs. Anyway, congratulations to Man. U, which won despite Chelsea's 25 shots on goal.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the Crew's fall guy.

(T) Crew 0, Toronto FC 0 -- (5/17) -- The Crew earned a hard fought point on the road, on international soil no less in the esteemed metropolis of America Jr., Toronto. For those who had a chance to watch, it was a rather uninspired match, but one that still moved Columbus up to 6-1-1 and 19 points in first place in the MLS Eastern Conference. The biggest splahes were made by new British coach John Carver of Torornto FC and Crew MF Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Carver has already gained a reputation for his flamboyance and disputes with officials, and he carried through in true fashion Saturday afternoon in claiming Oscar nominations for Schelotto on a number of first half tumbles. Schelotto actually was carded for a dive late in the second half and had been pelted by fans in the first half for an apparent unprecipitated fall. Crew Coach Sigi Schmidt was reduced to having words with the Argentinian star at the half as well. Neither side had any clear goal chances, though Jeff Cunningham, a late substitue, put a small scare into his former Crew teammates with an errant miss in the 77th minute. Alejandro Moreno missed wide on the only real Crew chance at 54 minutes. Next up -- New England comes to Crew Stadium on Saturday May 24 at 7:30 PM.

Jeff Cunningham spent 6 years with the Crew.

Crew Preview -- at Toronto FC  -- MLS darlings Toronto FC (3-2-1) carry a 4 game unbeaten streak into their home match at 4 pm Saturday against the Crew (6-1). Toronto is the prize of the league in attendance and fan support, which nobody can deny. They've played 3 home games in a row, averaging almost exactly 20,000 at each game. The Crew defeated Toronto in the season opener in Columbus 2-0.  Former six season Crew member F Jeff Cunningham is with Toronto and has a goal plus a number of other opportunities in somewhat limited playing time. Cunningham had 62 goals and 42 assists with the Crew and stands as one of the original team heroes in the hearts of many fans . . . Crew MF Adam Moffat will miss the game with a right knee meniscus tear. Toronto reports no significant injuries. 

Robbie Rogers scored two to keep the Crew in first.

(W) Crew 3, Earthquakes 2 -- Shook Me All Night Long --(Game of 5/10) -- Three quick second half goals shook San Jose late Saturday night before 9,318 at Santa Clara Stadium as the Crew overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to put away their sixth victory of the 2008 campaign. Columbus' 18 points (6-1) is still good for first place in the East and the best record in MLS. Robbie Rogers was the star with his fourth and fifth goals of the year, trailing only Landon Donovan (8) for the league lead. Columbus gained 18 corner kicks and pressured San Jose most of the game, but an early Ezra Henderson shot off a Rogers corner hit the top crossbar, and San Jose managed the opener just before half on a sliding header by Ramiro Corrales past Columbus Keeper Will Hesmer. Emmanuel Ekpo subbed in the second and once again proved his worth, hitting Rogers in stride on a breakaway for the equalizer at 73 minutes. Rogers followed again on a breakaway at the 81 minute mark with an assist by Alejandro Moreno, and Brad Evans netted his first two minutes later hitting the top of the net off a pass from Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who notched his fifth assist of the year. Columbus then helped San Jose with an own goal near game's end to make it interesting. Next up --- at Toronto FC Sat. 5/17 at 4 pm. Toronto rountinely draws the best crowds and rowdiest fans in MLS, so be prepared!

Danny O'Rourke played with the prior version of the Earthquakes.

Crew Preview -- at San Jose 5/10 -- The Crew travels long distance for this next match but may be secretly salivating with a foe in the San Jose Earthquakes having scored just 2 goals this season. Kickoff is at 10 pm for any planning to watch the action on fledgling Columbus Sports Network (unaffiliated with this website) or listen on 610 WTVN. San Jose is down on its luck so far, gaining just 4 points in a 1-3-1 start. Fans of each squad will see familiar faces. Crew star Alejandro Moreno played for San Jose in 2005 as did MF Danny O'Rourke, and former Crew players Ned Grabavoy and Kei Kamara are currently with the Earthquakes.  The two went to San Jose in last year's expansion draft, as this is actually San Jose's return to MLS after a two year departure from the league. Browns fans will love this situation - the league snuffed out San Jose's existence and shipped the franchise to Houston, though the rights to the nickname and logo were kept. Despite San Jose's poor start, it did earn a 0-0 draw with Dallas last Saturday.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto battles against Kansas City.

(W) Crew 2, Wizards 1 (Game of 5/3) -- Going to See the Wizards --  . . . and blew them right back into Oz on Saturday night as the Crew rode their fourth straight one goal win 2-1 over KC. Columbus is now an incredible 5-1 (15 points) and in first place in the East. The win broke open a 5 point gap between Columbus and KC. Alejandro Moreno did not score this time but the Crew enjoyed first half goals by Adam Moffat and Robbie Rogers. Newcomer Emmanuel Ekpo subbed for Moffat at 54 minutes and himself had a near miss goal attempt that would have made the victory easier. The Crew conceded a penalty kick goal to the Wizards' Claudio Lopez after opening a first half 2-0 lead. Moffat's goal came quick, in the 4th minute after a free kick by Guilllermo Barros Schelotto and header from D Chad Marshall. Moreno did add a bicycle kick assist on Rogers' goal, which was Rogers' third of the year. Moreno still leads the team with four, and missed an early goal attempt just over the crossbar. As predicted, and despite a shoulder injury, Will Hesmer played admirably in goal again allowing only the late PK to Lopez. Of local interest, former OSU player Roger Espinoza drew a first half red card, causing the Wizards to play a man down for the remainder.   Attendance was announced at 10,447, somewhat disappointing but not bad for a Derby Day that had been quite rainy and windy early on.   Crew Preview -- (Game of 5/3) -- The Crew welcomes Kansas City on Saturday night at Crew Stadium at 7:30 pm. Temperatures are forecasted in the 60's with only a slight chance of rain, so let's beat last week's 15,000 attendance mark. The game will be shown nationally on Fox Soccer Channel. The Wizards are in the midst of an unfortunate six game road trip. Though standing tied in second place in the East, KC went down to Toronto FC 2-0 last week. The game could see significant action from new Crew MF Emmanuel Ekpo of Nigeria. GK Will Hesmer is listed as questionable with a left shoulder AC joint sprain, but we expect him to play. 

Columbus GK Will Hesmer recorded a shutout against Houston.

(W) Crew 1, Dynamo 0 --Victory Again -- (5/1) -- The Crew defeated the Houston Dynamo Saturday night at Crew Stadium 1-0 behind an early 22nd minute goal from, you guessed it, Alejandro Moreno, a former Houston Dynamo player. Moreno's goal had its genesis with a nice corner from Guillerma Barrios Schelotto. Will Hesmer had the shutout in goal, but it was defender Danny O'Rourke who knocked out the potential tying shot from Franco Caraccio. Caraccio also had a header deflected by Hesmer later. A crowd of over 15,000 was announced, the best of the year. The win puts Columbus at 4-1, twelve points and in first place in the East. Next game is with KC at home at 7:30 on Sat. 5/3.

Houston won the MLS championship last year.

Crew Preview -- Houston 4/26 -- Defending MLS champs Houston Dynamo limp into Crew Stadium Saturday night to see if they can allow the Crew to advance to 4-1 and 12 points in the standings. Houston has had an underwhelming start to the 2008 season, going 0-1-3 and being the only MLS team without a win. Houston allowed comebacks by the LA Galaxy twice last game in a disappointing 2-2 tie. The Crew have a winless history against the Dynamo, going 0-1-3 all-time. Look for center forward Alejandro Moreno to continue to be aggressive and continue to find open spaces for feeds from Guillermo Barros Schelotto and others.

Alejandro Moreno leads the Crew to a 3-1 opening record.

Corner Kicks -- (4/19) -- It's been a fantastic though tense and uncertain start to the 2008 MLS season for the Columbus Crew, who stand at 3-1 and in first place in the MLS East. Thursday night's hero was Alejandro Moreno (F). Moreno scored his third of the year (tied for the MLS lead), minding that the squad has just 8 total on the campaign. Incredibly, no other squad has punched in more. Moreno also forced DC United into an own goal, which in actuality was the winner of the 2-1 match, as he was about to put in a header. . .  Keeper William Hesmer was tricked on DC's goal by Bryan Namoff, who seemed unchecked by the Crew in the penalty area. Hesmer has stopped solid penalty kicks several times this year, but has still given up 6 goals, including 3 in the Crew win over Chivas on 4/12. Tickets, please -- Attendance is still slipping as the Crew await warmer weather and the ability to draw fans to post-game concerts using the new back-goal stage.  Only 6,733 showed up for the Chivas game in miserable early season conditiions, and the team has now fired four ticket sales reps. That's unfortunate, given what we know about the capital city's need for a winner after years of buying tickets for few results. Another win and the Crew should start increasing attendance, especially when schoolkids can start coming to games in June. 13,843 attended the home opener 2-0 win over hapless Toronto, and that is more of the type of crowd Corner Kicks expects this year. Worth it? -- Though not typically available in the past, we are now depressingly allowed some insight into MLS salaries, and particularly what is paid to Crew team members. Let's start at the top -- acclaimed April acquisition Emmanuel Ekpo of Nigeria commands $125,000, which is on the high end of the pay rate. Way out ahead is Argentine star Guillermo Barros Schelotto at $375,000. Schelotto was the 2nd week MLS player of the week and leads the league in assists. He's by far the highest paid, and has proved his value well beyond. GK stalwart and season savior William Hesmer on the other hand gets only $70,000. Columbus is presently spending $2.1 million of the league $2.3 million maximum.

Tags: columbus crew, crew, mls, soccer