their first three league losses on East Capitol Street on the season -- while the Crew rebounded from their first home league loss in more than a year with a 1-0 win at New England the week before.
• With their playoff hopes on life support, Luciano Emilio gave his team the start it needed. Boyzzz Khumalo threaded a through ball into the Columbus area and Emilio ran onto it before chipping a shot over the advancing William Hesmer, the ball just crossing the goal line before it was cleared for Emilio's 10th goal on the season.
• D.C. United and goalkeeper Steve Cronin -- making his club debut after being acquired on loan during the week -- withstood withering pressure down the stretch to hold on, Cronin called upon to make six saves.
• Crew head coach Robert Warzycha made five changes to the team that defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 at Gillette Stadium the weekend before. Frankie Hejduk, Danny O'Rourke, Adam Moffat, Robbie Rogers and Guillermo Barros Schelotto came into the team, in place Andy Iro, Gino Padula, Emmanuel Ekpo, Brian Carroll and Emilio Renteria.
• Here's Warzycha's team (4-4-1-1): William Hesmer - Frankie Hejduk, Eric Brunner, Danny O'Rourke, Jed Zayner - Eddie Gaven, Kevin Burns (Andy Iro 82), Adam Moffat, Robbie Rogers - Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Jason Garey 56) - Steven Lenhart (Emilio Renteria 66). Substitutes Not Used: Cory Elenio, Duncan Oughton, Gino Padula, Kenny Schoeni
TEAM NEWS
• After going 22 league games with only two losses, the Crew have lost two of their last three MLS games. "Everyone in here knows we didn't play poorly," said Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers. "We don't want to lose but if they would have taken it to us and beat us then maybe everyone would have been a little more bummed and their heads would have been down. But we have a quick turnaround. Everyone knows that."
• But there was no question with CONCACAF Champions League advancement resting on a trip to Puerto Rico three days later, Warzycha was taking the opportunity to employ some squad rotation.
• "We can bounce back from this game, we have a game against New England at home. The game against Puerto Rico is very important," Warzycha said. " ... I think we have a very deep squad so you saw today on the field, I don't think the quality went down. We played a pretty good game."
• On Tuesday, the Crew got the result they needed, getting a late equalizer from Emilio Renteria to secure a 1-1 draw with the Puerto Rico Islanders of USL-1 and advance to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
• Here's Warzycha's team: William Hesmer; Frankie Hejduk (Steven Lenhart 61), Gino Padula, Andy Iro, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno, Eddie Gaven, Kevin Burns (Adam Moffat 46), Brian Carroll, Emmanuel Ekpo (Emilio Renteria 72), Eric Brunner
• Now the Crew can set their sights on also winning the Supporters' Shield, which they can do with a victory against New England, regardless of what Chivas USA does in their two games during the week. The Crew would join D.C. United as the only team to repeat as winners of the Shield, who did it 2006 and 2007.
• "Some guys are going to play, some guys aren't, but we're going to try and win the game. It doesn't matter what Chivas does," Warzycha said. "The Champions League is very important. We are pleased that we are playing in the competition but we're happy all the games are out of the way and we can concentrate on the league. We accomplished our goal, which is to get to the next round."
• The Crew would also like to develop a foundation to build from heading into the MLS Cup Playoffs. They have scored just two goals in their last four games in all competitions. "I'm happy with the fact we're not necessarily playing pretty or to our top level but we're still getting results," Brian Carroll said. "But sometimes we're not playing very well and the results sometimes aren't going our way."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution were able to stay in touch in the MLS Cup Playoffs race into the final week, playing to a scoreless draw Saturday with the Chicago Fire at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution have 39 points from 29 matches, sitting in a four-way tie for eighth place overall and the final place in the wild card race.
LAST MATCH
• The Fire hadn't won in five games, but could still clinch their postseason place with a victory. The Revolution could not be eliminated with a loss, but were riding a three-game winless streak of their own.
• In the end, neither team could break through for a decisive goal. Jon Busch made seven saves in the Chicago goal while New England's Matt Reis contributed four.
• There was a dramatic incident in the 62nd minute when Chris Rolfe went down in the area as Reis slid to knock the ball away with the Fire striker in alone on goal, but referee Jorge Gonzalez booked Rolfe for simulation.
• Revolution head coach Steve Nicol made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 at home to the Columbus Crew the weekend before. Jeff Larentowicz and Edgaras Jankauskas returned to the team, in place of Pat Phelan and Wells Thompson.
• Here's Nicol's team (4-4-2): Matt Reis - Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Emmanuel Osei, Jay Heaps - Sainey Nyassi (Wells Thompson 80), Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Kenny Mansally (Mauricio Castro 58) - Edgaras Jankauskas, Kheli Dube (Nico Colaluca 85). Substitutes Not Used: Amaechi Igwe, Brad Knighton, Pat Phelan, Chris Tierney
TEAM NEWS
• If the Revolution are to extend their seven-year run of qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs - which includes four trips to the MLS Cup Final - they will certainly know what they need to do by kickoff. In all likelihood they will have to win - though there could be scenarios where a win won't help (depending on tiebreakers against other winners from the weekend).
• "We can't rely much on teams. I mean, we're going to have to pray for some things to go our way next week. And we're going to have to beat Columbus at their place, which is going to be a hard game for us in general, but that's how our playoff games have been for the last two or three years," said Shalrie Joseph. "It's been do-or-die for us for the last two or three games and tonight we only got a point, but we'll see where that takes us."
• The Revolution will also have to put an end to a four-game winless run and win for just the second time since the start of September.
• "We played a good game [against Chicago], we just didn't get lucky," Sainey Nyassi said. "We created enough chances, but we couldn't finish it. I think we still have the chance to make the playoffs. We'll go to Columbus and go all out to get the three points. Hopefully, if we get the three points, we'll qualify. Right now, we have to rely on the other teams."
• The Revolution will also need to find goals, having scored just one in their last four games. They did keep a clean sheet against Chicago, the first since Aug. 20 vs. Seattle, a span of nine games.
• "I think that there are some positives to take away for sure. I think that the energy was there - probably one of our better games all year. We didn't create many chances but the guys up top and the guys in the midfield worked really hard and I thought defensively we did a good job," said Jay Heaps. "... I think that last week was a similar type game. We didn't play great at all last week, but we still continued to fight."
• After missing three games to injury, Edgarus Jankauskas was able to return to the lineup. His addition could provide a necessary spark for the New England attack.
• "The last two or three games I've been trying to carry the load and a lot of guys are trying to pick up the slack where we haven't been scoring and creating the chances," Joseph said. "... Having Eddie up there (helped). Eddie holds the ball and brings us into the attack. That's what we've been missing all year, a target forward. Without that, we don't create many chances in the attacking third."
