BERKELEY, Mich. - The Columbus Crew used a pair of goals from Kei Kamara and another from Eddie Gaven to defeat the defending USL Premier Development League-champion Michigan Bucks, 3-0, in a friendly match Wednesday night in the Detroit suburb of Berkeley.
Columbus would draw first blood in the 25th minute when forward Eddie Gaven earned a penalty kick after being taken down from behind in the penalty box by the Michigan defense. Gaven converted the penalty try, shooting past the outstretched arms of the Bucks' goalkeeper to give the Crew a 1-0 lead.
Columbus would score again less than five minutes later, when a Gaven touch found forward Kei Kamara in space on the right side of the penalty area. Kamara's one-time, right-footed blast was too much for Michigan goalkeeper Steve Clark to handle, as the shot ripped the back of the net, providing Columbus with a 2-0 lead.
Crew defender Brandon Moss would help seal the deal for the Crew in the 40th minute, as he evaded defenders and dribbled up the right sideline before serving a low cross to a streaking Kamara who would notch his second goal of the night, giving Columbus a commanding 3-0 lead heading into halftime.
Both sides would make multiple substitutions in the second half, seeking to utilize their reserves, and neither side was able to convert second half opportunities into scores.
It marks the second straight year that the Crew has traveled to Michigan to play the Bucks in the second year of a working relationship between the two clubs. In 2006, Columbus faced the eventual PDL-champion Bucks twice, winning both by identical 4-1 scores - a May 25 exhibition and a U.S. Open Cup match on July 12.
The Crew returns to action Sunday (June 3) at Chicago against the Eastern Conference-rival Fire at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. Columbus (1-2-5, 8 pts.) is coming off a 2-2 tie at home against Toronto FC on May 26, while Chicago (3-4-2, 11 pts.) and Real Salt Lake played to a scoreless draw on Sunday (May 27).
Columbus Crew at Michigan Bucks (USL PDL) - Exhibition
May 30, 2007 - Berkeley High School, Hurley Field (Berkeley, Michigan)
Scoring Summary
CLB - Eddie Gaven (penalty kick) 25th min.
CLB - Kei Kamara (Eddie Gaven) 29th min.
CLB - Kei Kamara (Brandon Moss) 40th min.
Columbus Crew - Bill Gaudette (Will Hesmer 46), Brandon Moss, Chad Marshall, Jed Zayner (Ben Hunter 59), Ricky Lewis, Aaron Chandler (Ricardo Virtuoso 59), Danny Szetela, Tim Ward, Eddie Gaven, Kei Kamara (Jacob Thomas 59), Robbie Rogers
Substitutes Not Used: None
Michigan Bucks - Steve Clark (Mitch Hildenbrandt 62), Kyle Russell, Mike Holody (Santos Perez 58), Ian Daniel (Nate Zuzga 59), Dan Stevens (Steve Brust 46), Ty Shipalane (Nick Djokic 46), John Palladino (Djamel Becca 59), Alex Morisset (Piotr Nowak 46), Kenny Uzoiqwe (Doug DeMartin 46), Nate Jafta (George Josten 46), Mkhokheli Dube (Steve Bonnell 59)
Substitutes Not Used: Doug Rice, Xavier Balc, Eric Brunner
Disciplinary Summary
CLB - Danny Szetela (caution) 45'+
MCH - Ian Daniel (caution) 49'
MCH - Mike Holody (caution) 56'
