Crew end preseason in winning style

In their final preseason tune-up before the start of the 2008 Major League Soccer season, the Columbus Crew got a second-half goal from newcomer Nicolas Hernandez and held on for a 1-0 victory against AD Isidro Metapan from El Salvador's Primera Division on Saturday afternoon at Crew Stadium.

The game provided the first opportunity for the Crew to show off their new jerseys in front of the home fans. It was also a chance for the Black and Gold faithful to see the stadium renovations made in the offseason, as the permanent stage in the north end of Crew Stadium is basically finished.

Snow flurries died down in time for the start of the contest leaving just a chilly breeze -- especially felt by the Metapan players, who are accustomed to 70-degree temperatures at this time of year.

Neither team opened the contest looking extra sharp. The high point for the Crew early was easily their wing play on the attack. Robbie Rogers was able to find room down the left wing in the first few minutes, and managed to work in a dangerous cross or two. Brad Evans struck a volley from one of Rogers' crosses, but hit it directly at Metapan 'keeper Alvaro Alfaro.

The strong wing play continued throughout the first half for Columbus and veteran defender Frankie Hejduk made sure he got in on the action, making several of his signature runs down the right wing and forcing a couple of corner kicks.

Stefani Miglioranzi got the start in defense for the Crew, along with Hejduk, Chad Marshall and Danny O'Rourke. In the 34th minute he sparked a Crew attack when he made a very Hejduk-like run of his own down the left wing from his defensive position. Miglioranzi's pass was only inches off, however, as his left-footed cross just barely rose over the heads of both Alejandro Moreno and Hernandez, the Crew's most recently acquired player.

The Crew opened the second half on the attack again, and Hernandez almost found the back of the net early on for the Black and Gold. Moreno hit a low shot that Alfaro pushed away from the Metapan net but the ball fell to the foot of Hernandez, who unfortunately sent his shot directly back at Alfaro.

The Crew continued to push the issue in the 57th minute. Hejduk, again joining the attack down the right wing, turned his defender and sent in a left-footed cross, finding Evans. This time Evans was able to get a head to the ball but missed the target by inches as his header rebounded high off the left post.

In the 66th minute the Crew efforts finally paid off. Adam Moffat received a pass in a dangerous position about 20 yards from the center of the Metapan goal, and sent a left-footed shot toward goal. It took one hop toward the corner before Alfaro was able to get a hand on it, but Hernandez was able to fight off his marker and get a foot to the rebound, knocking the ball into the lower left corner for the Crew lead.

After the goal, head coach Sigi Schmid removed the scoring combo of Moffat and Hernandez to bring on Guilherme So and Duncan Oughton. So immediately displayed some dazzling footwork in a two-man game down the right wing with Hejduk.

Then seconds later the good wing play continued for the Crew, this time with Rogers again attacking the left side. After dribbling through his defender's legs, however, the Crew winger sent his shot harmlessly over the crossbar.

The Crew held on for the final few minutes of the match for the 1-0 victory, much to the delight of fans in attendance. Up ahead in exactly one week is the 2008 season opener, also in Columbus against Toronto FC.

Columbus Crew vs. Isidro Metapán (El Salvador)
March 22, 2008 - Crew Stadium (Columbus, OH)

Scoring:

CLB - Nicolas Hernandez 67'

Columbus Crew - Will Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Danny O'Rourke, Stefani Miglioranzi, Robbie Rogers, Brian Carroll, Adam Moffat (Duncan Oughton 74), Brad Evans, Nicolas Hernandez (Guilherme So 72), Alejandro Moreno

Substitutes Not Used: Jason Garey, Leonard Griffin, Ryan Junge, Ezra Hendrickson, Andy Iro, Andrew Peterson, George Josten, Steven Lenhart

Metapán - Misael Alfaro (Enllelbert Gonzalez 82), Ernesto Iraheta, Marcelo Messias, Jorge Rodriguez, Ricardo Alvarado (Vicente Melgar 84), Hector Omar Mejia, Paolo Suarez, Jamie Gomez (Mario Posadas 56), Fredy Vichez (Ruben Cedillos 84), William Reyes (Oscar Ulloa 83), Julio Martinez (Juan Panameno 65)

Substitutes Not Used: None

Misconduct Summary:
CLB - Frankie Hejduk (caution - dissent) 37'
MTP - Mario Posadas (caution - tackle from behind) 71'

Nathan Linton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.