The Los Angeles Galaxy kept their playoff dreams alive -- and the Columbus Crew saw theirs dealt another blow -- as the Galaxy answered an early Columbus goal with two quick ones of their own and held on for a 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at Crew Stadium.
Alejandro Moreno put the Crew into the lead after just two minutes, but the Galaxy got goals from Troy Roberts and Kyle Martino four minutes apart before the match was a quarter old and then survived a late Columbus rally for the win.
The loss left the Crew still two points behind the eighth-place Chicago Fire and the final spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, as Columbus failed to take advantage of the failure of both Chicago and Colorado to win over the weekend, their closest pursuers for the final spot in the postseason.
But that race has now been joined by the Galaxy, who have 27 points, six points behind the Fire, with four games still to play.
The Galaxy had never won a match in Crew Stadium, and moreover, had never defeated their former coach Sigi Schmid, who is now in charge of the Crew. If the Galaxy were to maintain any real shot to make the playoffs they would have to do both.
Before a capacity crowd asked to wear black to "blackout" the Galaxy, the Crew got off to the best of all possible starts. Midfielder Duncan Oughton slid the ball through to the right corner, finding Andy Herron. Herron took a touch to control and sent an out-swinging cross to the back post, where Moreno worked free to snap a header past Galaxy 'keeper Joe Cannon and into the net for his team-leading sixth goal of the year.
But it took the Galaxy just 11 minutes to answer. Landon Donovan took a free kick from the right wing, which fell into a wild scramble in the box. Frankie Hejduk was barely able to get a foot to it for the Crew but the ball was deflected off Roberts and bounced around in the goal area for a second or two before rolling toward the Crew net. Just before Columbus 'keeper Will Hesmer was able to reach it, it crossed over the line, and Roberts was credited with his first professional goal.
In the 16th minute the Galaxy capitalized on another lapse in the Columbus defense. After they gained control in the back, team captain Hejduk gave the ball right back to Los Angeles, sending his pass directly to Martino at the top of the box. Martino took a touch to create space and sent in a low hard shot through the lanky legs of defender Ezra Hendrickson and into the corner of the net for a 2-1 Galaxy lead.
Despite what initially seemed like a quick start, the Crew did not record their second shot of the contest until the 27th minute, when Ned Grabavoy sent a free kick just wide of the goal. Through the first half-hour of play the Galaxy looked more like the nearly playoff-bound team playing at home than the Crew did, and little would change before the halftime break as the Galaxy maintained their lead.
In the early minutes of the second half the Galaxy had a great opportunity to extend their advantage. Hejduk committed a foul just outside the penalty area, and narrowly missed giving the Galaxy a penalty kick. Chris Klein struck the free kick for L.A., but the Crew wall deflected the shot and the defense was able to clear the rebound.
As the match entered the final 20 minutes, the Crew started to see the urgency of the situation and pile on the pressure, earning a few corners and sending a few shots and crosses in towards Galaxy 'keeper Cannon.
In the 72nd minute, the Crew had a sustained flurry that included a couple of corners. Ezra Hendrickson sent one header toward goal that Cobi Jones headed clear from the goalmouth, and Cannon was able to corral another dangerous cross that trickled dangerously close to his net.
Then in the 86th minute, a cross came in from the right and substitute Kei Kamara got up well for a free header, only to send it crashing off the face of the crossbar.
As the 90 minutes wound down, the Crew won the final of their eighth corners for the game (to the Galaxy's zero). Moreno brought one more save out of Cannon in stoppage time -- his fifth in the game, while Hesmer was not credited with any.
Yet despite the overwhelming statistical advantage, the Galaxy maintained their lead on the scoreboard, and now finish off their three-game road swing with a trip to Houston to keep their playoff hopes afloat. For the Crew, their postseason qualification will now have to be done the hard way, as they face journeys to the top two teams in the Eastern Conference -- D.C. United and the New England Revolution -- in closing out the season.
Nathan Linton is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
