COLUMBUS, Ohio – Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored on a penalty kick in the 90th minute to lead the unbeaten Crew to a dramatic 1-0 victory over hard-luck Chivas USA at Crew Stadium on Saturday.
As the match seemed destined for a scoreless draw, Chivas forward Justin Braun took down defender Chad Marshall near the left post on a Schelotto free kick in the dying minutes. The Argentine was sent to the spot and went down the middle past Zach Thornton for his fourth goal on the season (his second off a PK).
Crew defender Gino Padula made the two most important saves to keep the match scoreless through the hour mark. The left back first cleared a shot off the goal line by Jonathan Bornstein after a string buildup down the left flank in the 58th minute. On the Goats’ next possession, Blair Gavin pounced on the loose ball in the box and fired toward the net, only to see Padula head the ball away at the line.
Chivas USA had a clear opportunity late in the game when Braun went on a breakaway in the 85th minute, but Crew keeper William Hesmer came off his line to snuff Braun on the right side of the box and then outrace the forward to the rebound.
For his own part, Thornton did his best to keep the match scoreless with a difficult diving save in the 27th minute. Schelotto set up for a free kick from 40 yards but tapped the ball to Adam Moffat, who drove a low ball that eluded the wall but took a slight deflection at the second line of defense. Thornton went stretched to push the attempt away.
Chivas coach Martin Vasquez made one change from the 2-0 loss to Houston, fielding midfielder Michael Lahoud, who returned from a two-game suspension to replace Gerson Mayen.
Columbus went with the same lineup that defeated New England 3-2 even though Danny O’Rourke was back after a one-game suspension. Gino Padula instead got the start at left back for the second straight game but was subbed for O’Rourke in the 66th minute.
It was the last match for Bornstein and teammate Sacha Klejstan and the Crew’s Robbie Rogers and Marshall before leaving for the US pre-World Cup camp. Rogers played most of the game in a head bandage after taking an early knock.
Scoring Summary:
CLB -- Guillermo Barros Schelotto 4 (penalty) 90
Misconduct Summary:
CHV-- Michael Umana (Caution: Reckless tackle) 15
CLB – Frankie Hejduk (Caution: Reckless tackle) 55
CHV -- Jesus Padilla (Caution: Reckless tackle) 60
CHV – Ben Zemanski (Caution: Reckless foul) 77
Lineups:
CHIVAS USA -- Zach Thornton; Mariano Trujillo, Michael Umana, Dario Delgado, Jonathan Bornstein; Ben Zemanski, Blair Gavin, Michael Lahoud (Marcelo Saragosa, 83): Sacha Klejstan, Jesus Padilla (Maicon Correa, 90th), Justin Braun (Chukwudi Chijindu, 91+).
COLUMBUS -- William Hesmer; Frankie Hejduk, Eric Brunner, Chad Marshall, Gino Padula (Danny O’Rourke, 66); Brian Carroll, Adam Moffat, Robbie Rogers, Eddie Gaven (Emmanuel Ekpo, 81); Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Steven Lenhart (Jason Garey, 75).
Referee: Jeff Gontarek.
Referee's Assistants: Craig Lowry, Jeff Muschik
4th Official: Hilario Grajeda
Weather: 67 and cloudy
Time of Game: 1:51
Attendance: 15,027
