Crew Defeats DC 2-1

Matt Bernhardt
April 17, 2008

The Columbus Crew's first victory in RFK Stadium came courtesy of an own goal from Richie Williams. So too did the team's latest conquest, as Sigi Schmid's men gutted out a 2-1 win Thursday night. The victory puts the Crew temporarily atop the MLS standings, with nine points from four games played. DC United, meanwhile, is in the Eastern Conference basement with the opposite record.

Crew forward Alejandro Moreno opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, tapping home a Frankie Hejduk cross from short range. Hejduk's play was itself assisted by Guillermo Barros Schelotto, giving the Argentine three assists in the young season. That goal puts Moreno into a three-way tie for the league scoring lead, while Schelotto sits alone atop the assist category.

Not ten minutes later, DC United levelled the match - capping a period of solid pressure with a goal technically awarded to Bryan Namoff. The midfielder's shot from distance may in fact have been heading wide of the net before caroming off Adam Moffat. The deflection caught Will Hesmer leaning the wrong way, sending the ball rifling over Hesmer's shoulder and into the back of the net.

Barely a minute would pass until the scoreboard changed again. In a play very similar to the Crew's first goal, a buildup on the right flank gave the Crew possession on the United end line. This time, it was Adam Moffat in control, whose chipped shot rose over Zach Wells and landed in a scrum at the goal line before landing in the net. The goal was initially given to Moreno, before replays showed that in fact it had been knocked home by United defender Gonzalo Peralta.

Both teams next take the field on April 26th. DC United stays at home, hosting Real Salt Lake in hopes of avenging last weekend's 4-0 shellacking. Columbus, meanwhile, will play host to the Houston Dynamo.