Evans Blasts Crew to 1-0 Victory

Matt Bernhardt
October 4, 2008

In a game where DC United tagged the post twice and the underside of the crossbar, it was the Columbus Crew who found a way to score the game's only goal. Brad Evans launched an unstoppable shot in the 77th minute, tucking just inside the left post to condemn DC United to a playoff-less season for the first time since 2002.

Almost from the opening whistle, United played with more urgency and passion. As expected from a team fighting for its playoff life, on the road, they focused on breaking up any Crew possession and launching quick counterattacks.

The Crew, for their part, looked rusty. They were able to possess the ball in stretches, but rarely did they advance into the United penalty box; even more rarely did they gain the area with more than one player.

The first real scoring chance, then, was created by DC United. From a corner kick in front of Nordecke, Bryan Namoff rose at the near post to head the ball netwards. His shot, however, only glanced off the back post and bounced away.

In an echo of United's midweek CONCACAF Champions League match, a pair of injuries set the crowd on edge. Chad Marshall and Francis Doe went down at the left edge of the penalty area, but United continued to look to create a scoring chance rather than play the ball out for medical attention. The crowd roared their outrage, but United - who were victimized by Cruz Azul on Wednesday while Gonzalo Martinez lay injured - showed that they learned from that experience and kept playing.

Perhaps the Crew's best chance came in the 30th minute, as they were finally able to send in a cross from the right side into a scrum of players. The chance went for naught, however, when none of the three black-clad players in the vicinity was able to send the ball goalwards.

United almost broke the deadlock in first half stoppage time. Luciano Emilio was finally able to break the Crew's offside trap, his curling run timed to perfection. He and Hesmer closed on each other near the left edge of the penalty area, and Hesmer stood his ground to force a long shot from Emilio. The Brazilian's curling shot easily eluded Hesmer, but pinged off the back post - rebounding into play where Hejduk knocked the ball safely out for a corner.

Coming out of halftime, the Crew played with an increased sense of urgency, holding possession more often, and higher up the field. The team took the half's first shot on goal, in the 52nd minute from Brad Evans. The shot was easily saved, directly at Louis Clayton, but it was a clear departure from the first half, when the Crew took 33 minutes to take their first shot - with none on goal.

DC started to make changes, bringing on Jaime Moreno in the 54th minute. The change helped give DC a more dangerous presence on the field, and the game took an a more open character. Luciano Emilio continued his threatening runs, and Fred forced a very nice reaction save from William Hesmer in the 63rd minute.

Meanwhile, the Crew continued to see fairly dangerous buildups disrupted or foiled by errant shooting. Schelotto's cross from the right side was just too high for a wide open Eddie Gaven in the 61st minute, while both Frankie Hejduk and Gino Padula missed from long range shots in the 67th and 68th minutes. The flurry finished when Brad Evans just missed connecting on a header in the box off a Crew short corner.

DC's best chance of the half came around the 73rd minute. Immediately after Luciano Emilio fired just over the crossbar, William Hesmer had to make a smart save from Emilio. His left hand tipped the ball past the back post, and on the ensuing corner kick United four shots in quick succession. The most dangerous hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing back into play, where Greg Janicki headed well high.

The game's first goal finally came in the 77th minute. After weathering all the United pressure, the Crew broke up the middle of the field, across midfield and found Frankie Hejduk coming in from the right flank. Hejduk passed across to Brad Evans, who took a few controlling touches and launched an uncontested shot from about 30 yards. Where United's shots found the woodwork about bounced in, Evans' effort just nestled inside the left post. The 19,591 fans in attendance finally had their goal to celebrate.

The game got a little chippy in the closing stages, as United defenders twice committed very physical, cynical challenges on Crew players around the 80th minute. No cards were issued, however, and Columbus kept their focus on killing the game while looking for occasional chances to score.

The first Crew substitutions came in the 84th minute, as Brad Evans and Brian Carroll were both subbed out. Each had been carded earlier in the half, and Sigi Schmid commented after the game that their removal was done mostly to prevent them picking up a second yellow and missing the first game of the playoffs.

Andy Iro and fan favorite Duncan Oughton were each able to break up United chances in the game's closing minutes, and though the Crew did mount some chances of their own they were not credited with a shot after Gaven's attempt was blocked in the 83rd minute.

At the conclusion of three agonizing minutes of stoppage time, referee Mark Geiger blew for full time, condemning DC to missing the playoffs for the first time in 6 years, and starting the Shield celebrations for the home fans.

What It Means

The win gives the Crew their best-ever point total in 13 years of play (57, compared with 49 in 2004). They move into the playoffs having won eight of their last 11 games.

By virtue of winning this year's Supporters Shield, the Crew can look forward to participating in next year's CONCACAF Champions League.

DC United, however, faces the long offseason for the first time since 2002.

What Comes Next

Columbus will play Kansas City in the first round of the playoffs, with the first game of the home-and-home series coming next Saturday, November 1st, at 8 PM. The return leg is scheduled for Saturday, November 8th at 7:30 PM.

DC's league season is over, although they do have a home game against CD Marathon in the CONCACAF Champions League this Wednesday.