Two players who have had breakout seasons could be the difference makers for the Columbus Crew when they face New York for the MLS Cup Sunday at The Home Depot Center.
Second-year midfielder Robbie Rogers scored an exquisite 27-yard left-footed strike that gave the Crew a 2-1 lead in the 46th minute against the Red Bulls on Sept. 18, leading to a 3-1 victory in Crew Stadium.
"I really don't need to go out and change the way I play just because it's the MLS Cup," Rogers said. "We know New York is a very good team but so are we."
Defender Chad Marshall, the second overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, had several key goals this season but none was bigger than getting his head on a free kick by MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto to tie Chicago at 1-1 in the Eastern Conference Championship. The Crew won 2-1 to earn their first trip to the MLS Cup Final.
"That was a huge goal," midfielder Brad Evans said.
It was one of five overall for "Air" Marshall this season. All came on headers, with the one against the Fire marking the passing of an era. Marshall got inside position on former Crew striker Brian McBride, the king of aerial exploits, and powered a shot off the underside of the crossbar and past goalkeeper Jon Busch.
Out with the old Crew, in with the new.
Marshall was named the league's defender of the year and was also in the running for the comeback of the year award. He had a series of concussions last season and his career was in question at one time.
He was challenged by coach Sigi Schmid in the preseason to be more vocal, move the ball better and take advantage of his size (6-4).
"He has really become a dominant player in the air," Schmid said.
Marshall has also learned to compete harder in practice to be more consistent in games.
"He kills me," rookie forward Steven Lenhart said of going head-to-head in training sessions. "We make each other better, I hope. I'm definitely annoyed to play against him."
Being on a better team has certainly raised Marshall's game as well.
"I'm on a team that scores a lot of goals. I haven't had that in the past. There was a lot of pressure on the defense. If we gave up a goal we knew we would lose 1-0," he said. "We have a confidence about us. We're capable of scoring goals at any point of the game. We never really feel we're out of a game."
The Crew must be wary of New York's countering ability with the speedy Dane Richards running wild on the flanks and Dave van de Bergh moving through the midfield while Juan Pablo Angel has proven to be more than dangerous when he gets a sniff of the goal.
"We have to make sure they don't catch us on the counterattack," Marshall said. "They're a good counterattacking team and we have to keep an eye on Angel, obviously. He's capable of scoring from any angles and from far out."
The pressure will be on Marshall. "If Chad can keep Angel at bay like he did with McBride, it's another factor taken out of the game," Evans said.
Columbus has its own speed merchant demon in Rogers, who had six regular-season goals plus an insurance tally in the second-leg 2-0 win against Kansas City.
"Robbie's been effective all year, with just his speed alone and his awareness being on the flank. If he can get inside and whip in early balls and finish his chances it's going to be to our advantage," Evans said.
Rogers is only 21 but has already played at the reserve level of the Dutch Eredivisie and for the U.S. at this summer's Olympics in Beijing.
He credits the Crew veterans with helping him develop.
"Playing with players like Guillermo and Frankie (Hejduk) and Gino (Padula) -- they've played in big games -- has helped a lot," Rogers said. "Schelotto talks to me as much as he can at practice, before and after games. His English is a lot better. Last year he really couldn't teach me much except through Alejandro (Moreno)."
No matter what happens Sunday, Marshall and Rogers will likely be getting looks from clubs overseas. Marshall is out of contract at the end of the season.
"At some point I'd like to end up over there but I couldn't tell you when," he said.
The good news for Crew fans is Rogers said he plans to be in Columbus for the 2009 season.
"Maybe after next season," he said. "I've talked the coaches and my agents and we've decided I'm coming back for sure next season. Then we'll see what happens after next season."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
