Crew Lose Third Straight, 2-0 To Quakes

Matt Bernhardt
June 7, 2008

The Columbus Crew set a new record for scoring futility tonight, dropping a 2-0 decision to San Jose to extend their scoreless streak to four games. Ryan Johnson opened the scoring in the 10th minute, while Ramiro Corrales added an insurance tally in the 60th minute.

Along the way, Columbus was forced into making two first half substitutions as first Chad Marshall and then Ezra Hendrickson suffered injuries. With the Crew already featuring a shuffled back line to compensate for Danny O'Rourke's suspension, the Sigi Schmid's men finished the game with a back line of Ryan Junge (15 minutes MLS experience), Andy Iro (3 minutes), Jed Zayner (9) and Frankie Hejduk (20,000 miles flown in 2 weeks).

The game's first goal came on San Jose's first shot. With pressure coming down the Crew's left side, former All-Star Ronnie O'Brien drove in a cross that caught Ezra Hendrickson flatfooted, allowing Ryan Johnson to head home to the upper 90.

The next 24 minutes passed without a shot registered by either team.

Columbus' best chance of the first half came courtesy of Jed Zayner, making his first MLS start. He ran onto a ball cleared from a corner kick and launched a rocket from more than 30 yards, which rocked the crossbar before ricocheting out of play.

The second half started with the same sluggish pace. San Jose's first shot didn't come until the 50th minute, while the Crew didn't register an attempt until the 58th minute - both deflected.

Ramiro Corrales doubled the Earthquakes' advantage in the 60th minute. Rookie defender Andy Iro was whistled for a foul on his own end line just outside the penalty area; Ronnie O'Brien chipped the resulting free kick into the 6 yard box, where Ramiro Corrales rose highest to nod the ball home.

The second half became progressively more chippy; referee Ricardo Salazar brandished eight cards in the final 25 minutes, including red cards to Brad Evans (79th minute) and James Riley (85th).

Columbus thought they had pulled a goal back in the 67th minute after Alejandro Moreno sent the ball into the back of the net, but the striker was called for a handball immediately.

"I don't doubt it was a handball, but you know, the guy looked like the jockey on Big Brown, or whatever, on his back. Yet that doesn't get called. Either its a penalty kick, or its a goal" said Sigi Schmid after the game.

In the 70th minute, Brad Evans had another chance to get the Crew onto the scoreboard. Guillermo Barros Schelotto picked him out unmarked from a short corner, but his free header went wide of the left post.

The Crew's job became that much harder in the 79th minute as Brad Evans was given his marching orders for a foul on Kelly Gray. He launched into a desperation slide tackle on the San Jose midfielder, which caught the player after the ball had been played away. Salazar did not hesitate in reaching for his back pocket.

Three minutes later, Crew players and coaches were incensed by what appeared to be a similar play by San Jose's Eric Denton. Frankie Hejduk ran onto a misplayed ball, only to be tripped by a desperate challenge from the former Crew defender, sending Hejduk tumbling as he raced into the penalty area. Denton was duly cautioned as Crew players surrounded the referee asking why a harsher punishment was not given.

Columbus was nearly victimized for poor defensive play in the 87th minute. Schelotto sent in yet another Crew free kick from about 25 yards, but every Crew player upfield failed to track back after San Jose won possession. Instead of pressing their advantage with a 5-on-2 break, however, San Jose was content to take their foot off the gas and possess the ball to waste time.

Andy Iro was the next Crew player to find himself with a scoring chance, in the 91st minute. Columbus played a short corner to good effect yet again, allowing Schelotto to send in a cross from a half dozen yards off the end line. The ball found Iro, who was unfortunately only able to chest the ball into Joe Cannon's waiting arms.

After Brian Caroll's long drive forced a bobbled save from Cannon in the 94th minute, the final chance of the game fell to Robbie Rogers. Running in from the right flank, he turned a cross from the left on goal as he fell to the ground, but Cannon was yet again in good position to make the save. Seconds later, Salazar blew for full time.

With the loss, Columbus falls to 6-4-1 (19 points), winless and scoreless in their last four games. They will hope to end the futile streak next Saturday, on the road to Kansas City - although they also face Chicago in Peoria, Illinois in an Open Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.

Columbus may slip to 4th place in the Eastern Conference, should Chicago and Toronto both emerge victorious from this weekend's action.

San Jose improves to 3-6-1 (10 points) with tonight's triumph. They still sit in the Western Conference cellar, but could be only one point behind Salt Lake should the Jason Kreis' club succumb to Kansas City tonight.

Match Lineups

Columbus

William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Ezra Hendrickson (Ryan Junge 44'), Chad Marshall (Andy Iro 27'), Jed Zayner, Brian Carroll, Emmanuel Ekpo (Eddie Gaven 73'), Brad Evans (EJECTED 79'), Robbie Rogers, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Alejandro Moreno

Unused subs: Kenny Schoeni, Cory Elenio, Steven Lenhart, Duncan Oughton

San Jose

Joe Cannon, Ryan Cochrane, Eric Denton, Jason Hernandez, James Riley (EJECTED 85'), Ramiro Corrales, Ned Grabavoy, Kelly Gray, Ronnie O'Brien, John Cunliffe (Jovan Kirovski 76'), Ryan Johnson

Unused subs: Dan Benton, Gavin Glinton, Matt Hatzke, Jamil Roberts, Shea Salinas, Joe Vide