Those intimately involved with the Columbus Crew might not be the most unbiased to rank where the MLS Cup winners rank among the best in league history, but that doesn't stop them from having an opinion.
Investor-operator Clark Hunt of the Hunt Sports Group said the team is one of the best after being the first team in six years to win the Supporters' Shield (best regular-season record) and the MLS Cup in the same season with a 3-1 against New York on Sunday in The Home Depot Center.
It's only happened five teams in 13 seasons as the Crew joins the ranks of Los Angeles in 2002, Kansas City two years earlier and the D.C. United teams of 1997 and 1999. There's a link between the past two "double" winners -- current Crew coach Sigi Schmid was in charge of the Galaxy and the Hunts owned the Wizards at the time of their championship.
"It's a good accomplishment," said midfielder Brad Evans. "We set some goals at the beginning of the year. One was to make the playoffs and we accomplished that. Then win the Supporters' Shield, get by the first round, conference and win the MLS Cup. Go down the checklist. We did everything we wanted to do, which is outstanding."
The Crew won with style and in style. When everything clicked, it was breathtaking. After New York tied the match at 1-1, the incomparable Guillermo Barros Schelotto led the Crew charge that put the match away.
First, his corner kick was dead-on to Chad Marshall for a header just 87 seconds after the Red Bulls' equalizer.
"Our response was tremendous," assistant coach Robert Warzycha said. "From that point I knew nothing was going to happen to us."
It was Schelotto and his mates from there. He hit the crossbar with a strike from 22 yards then chipped a ball to Frankie Hejduk for an insurance goal in the 82nd minute to cap the Crew's turnaround from a postseason onlooker for three consecutive years to hoisting the trophy for the first time.
"We worked so hard this year. Guys worked their butts off. It feels really good," midfielder Eddie Gaven said. "This is what the team worked for. To see everybody run out there and jump on each other, it was just a special moment."
Columbus got stronger as the season went along. Critics wondered if the team peaked in late August and early September when it won four in a row which made capturing the Shield a possibility.
Then there was a disappointing 2-2 tie at Chicago on Oct. 12 when the Crew let a late lead slip away. That was followed by a 3-1 loss at New York and a 1-0 home win vs. D.C. United even though they were outplayed by the visitors.
If a 1-1 tie in the first leg of the opening series at Kansas City -- rookie Steven Lenhart scored in stoppage time to save the Crew -- shook the team's confidence, it wasn't telling. As the Crew did all season, they went back to work and followed leading scorer Alejandro Moreno's mantra: "Do what you do."
The Crew played wickedly tight defense and got timely goals to beat K.C. 2-0 at home to win the series 3-1 on aggregate to set up the Eastern Conference Championship against Chicago.
As had happened on 18 previous occasions during the season, the Crew fell behind 1-0, but for the 11th time responded with a positive result. Urged by a fanatical following in Crew Stadium, the Crew used scores by Chad Marshall and Gaven to book a place in the final.
"For this team to come through and be leaders the whole season is not an easy thing to do," Hejduk said. "Everyone was saying before the playoffs, 'You guys are doing too good during the year. You're going to get knocked out.'
"This team just held strong. It's just a bunch of battlers. That's the way we've been all year. I would put this team up to any team in the whole MLS Cup history, MLS history and we'd beat them. This team is second to none."
The championship run was no fluke. Since a 2-0 loss at Houston on Aug. 2 the Crew were 11-1-3. Their lone setback at New York came after clinching the Supporters' Shield and Schmid rested six starters. The Red Bulls went into the MLS Cup confident, based on beating the Crew twice in the regular season, but both were at home on artificial turf. In two games on grass the Crew won both 3-1.
"I'm just very proud of what our team did all season," Schmid said. "We found different ways to win at various times throughout the season ... Guillermo Barros Schelotto was tremendous. And other individuals stepping up at times was excellent as well."
All one has to do is look at the playoff scoring: Eight goals by seven players. Only Marshall, the 2008 MLS Defender of the Year, scored twice.
Of course, the offense runs through Schelotto. It wasn't enough that he had 19 assists in the regular season. He added six more in the four postseason games, including a record three in the final.
"I think Guillermo is a very special player," Moreno said. "And he's one of those players that can find passes that not many players in this league can find. And it allows for Robbie (Rogers) to become a better player. It allows for Eddie Gaven to become a better player. And it certainly allows me more opportunity to score goals."
While the Crew became the first team since D.C. United in 2004 to score three or more goals in the MLS Cup, William Hesmer celebrated his 27th birthday by becoming the first goalkeeper not to have a save in the title match.
After John Wolyniec scored in the 51st minute, the Red Bulls had only two shots the rest of the match and one came in the final seconds of stoppage time.
"This team has played great defense the whole year and it definitely showed out there again," Gaven said.
Evans agreed. "Overall, we played extremely well in the second half. We showed the character we've had all season and fought together as a team."
With the end of every season comes the realization that this group of 28 players will soon go their separate ways. Changes in roster limits and the folding of the reserve division automatically means there will be at least four fewer roster spots next season.
Some players will be released. One among the many on the unprotected list for Wednesday's expansion draft will likely got to Seattle Sounders FC.
Key players Schelotto, Marshall and defender Danny O'Rourke are out of contract but the Crew are hopeful of re-signing all. The big question is if Schmid will sign a new deal with Columbus or move to Seattle. If he comes back the pieces should be aligned for another title run. Hunt and Schmid reportedly met Monday morning to discuss a contract. If Schmid is not back, Warzycha will become the head coach.
"Certainly we're thinking about repeating in 2009," Hunt said.
For now, it's party time.
An official celebration is still being planned but fans have been encouraged to meet the team at Port Columbus International Airport around 11 p.m. Monday in the baggage claim area.
"Our fans were awesome again (Sunday)," three-time Cup winner Ezra Hendrickson said. "That's something good for them. They stuck with us. The past couple of years haven't been too successful but the fans were always there for us."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
