An early goal by Jose Retiz showed all of the signs of igniting a Columbus Crew offense that had struggled for much of the season. However, the Crew failed to finish any of the many chances they generated and had to settle with a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA at Crew Stadium on Saturday night.
Retiz gave the Black-and-Gold their first halftime lead of the season on a shot from distance that deflected off Chivas defender Jonathan Bornstein.
"I was faking as though I was going to shoot at first," said Retiz, who scored his first MLS goal. "When I got more space, I shot and it got deflected."
"Good things happen when you shoot," said Crew coach Sigi Schmid. "Our goal came off a deflection when Retiz hit the ball."
After having a mild offensive breakthrough on Wednesday against New England, following being shut out twice, Columbus showed an attack in the first half that Chivas had difficulty containing. Another deflected shot by Retiz nearly found the back of the net, and two others that beat Chivas 'keeper Preston Burpo couldn't get past Bornstein on the goal line.
"We created many good chances," said Schmid. "They cleared a couple off the line."
Despite taking the lead into break, the Crew suffered from their inability to put away a second goal when dominating the run of play. Juan Pablo Garcia's free kick early the second half made the Crew pay for their missed chances.
"We can't keep giving up soft goals. We have given up four bad goals in the last three games," said Schmid. "Our goalkeeping needs to be better."
While Schmid thought the goal was soft, Crew 'keeper Noah Palmer saw it differently.
"I give credit to Juan Pablo Garcia. It was a good shot," said Palmer. "Maybe I could save it on a different day."
Unsure whether to expect a shot or a cross, Palmer positioned himself to be ready for both.
"I was off my line a step or step and half. I think that is where I need to be in case he whips in a cross in front of the goal," said Palmer. "He hit it well. I think I was positioned correctly."
Both were unhappy not to get a win at home where the Crew have only earned seven points in seven games despite an improved offensive demonstration.
"It is frustrating. You always want to win. Losing or tying is not that filling," said Palmer. "I thought we played well. We created more chances than we have."
Added Schmid: "[I'm] disappointed because we have given up a goal we shouldn't have given up in the second half. I thought we came out and played with a lot of energy. I thought we took the game to them. I wasn't displeased with how we played today. I am just angry with the fact that we have given away four points in the last two games."
Even though the Crew saw their four-game winless streak continued, Schmid saw several bright spots in the match.
"I was pleased with our effort," said Schmid. "I thought Brandon Moss played a very good game."
Moreover, Retiz had a particularly strong match in which he battered the Chivas goal with shots from distance and disrupted the Chivas attack in the midfield before he left the match due to an injury.
"Retiz was playing well, but unfortunately, when he got taken down he hurt his back, so we had to take him out," said Schmid.
The back line also had a strong performance in limiting the league's top scorer, Ante Razov, and his strike partner, Juan Francisco Palencia.
"(Marcos) Gonzalez did a good job getting tight on whoever he had whether it was Razov or Valencia," Schmid said. "(Ritchie) Kotschau did really well being free."
John Kuhn is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
