AUGUST 22, 2006
COLUMBUS CREW HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the game:
"I thought our overall effort was a little bit better. Over the last two games, we've been playing better soccer. We had a little bit of good fortune - they hit the post twice. But I also thought Bill Gaudette did a good job of standing them up and limiting his options - he didn't give an option away, he didn't lean one way or fall one way too early.
"We took an unfortunate goal on the deflection. There was a period of time where we had domination of the game and you've got to put teams away when you have those chances. Coiner had a good look and didn't take the shot. Jacob Thomas, two three times, good looks and shots. (Marc) Burch had good look that put over top in second half."
On what improved:
"I think our soccer is better. I thought Gaudette did a good job tonight. I think Burch since he's come to us has done a good job on the left flank. I thought Jacob Thomas played more like he needs to play for us and we were better at using what he does. Speed.
"If you can hold that 1-0 lead a little bit longer and take it into the second half, teams will start to press and things open up a little bit more. But we haven't had good fortune."
On the upcoming friendly with Everton FC:
"With Everton, it gives us a chance to put some guys out there that haven't played a lot lately. It gives us a chance to experiment a little bit. It gives Chad Marshall a chance to put a stamp on things and say 'I deserve to be in the lineup, let me show you.'"
On the winless streak:
"We're trying not to talk about the streak. My feeling is that if you play well, the rest will take care of itself. The last two games we've had more combination play, more attacking play. What we need to add is the finality - the final crosses, the final opportunities where the shots on goal have to be taken. If we play well enough, then wins will come."
COLUMBUS CREW FORWARD EDDIE GAVEN
On his goal:
"Those are the goals that you need sometimes. One of those easy ones from two or three yards away just to get you rolling a little bit. Hopefully that can happen. Right when I saw it hit the net, I was kind of like thank you. It would have been a lot better if we would have won the game. I thought we played pretty well, especially early on in the first half. They also had some pretty good chances but we had a lot of good chances. After some bad losses this is a good first step and now we have to keep on getting better.
"It was a great team buildup. Ryan played a perfect ball over the top to Jacob. Jacob just ran by his guy. Like I said, he put the ball right on my head. It was just boom-boom goal. That is something we have to do a lot more of."
COLUMBUS CREW DEFENDER RITCHIE KOTSCHAU
On the game:
"The team's performance was good out there today. Scoring early helped. Giving up the deflection goal is just unlucky. First and foremost the crowd was behind us today. I want to thank the fans for sticking behind us during these times. We need all the push we can get."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP
On the game:
"We got a tie out of it. We could have scored more than one goal. It was a bit of a scrappy game, it wasn't really pretty, especially in the second half. I think a draw was a fair result for both teams."
On the team:
"I think we've come to a point now where we're kind of disappointed if we can only get a point. We are sort of building, but we feel we can win every game.
"We know that we're pretty close to scoring more goals than just one a game."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY MIDFIELDER KYLE MARTINO
On returning to Columbus:
"It feels good to finally be back. It was really strange after being with this team for four years. Sitting on the visitors bench and coming into the visitors lockerroom. The way the fans treated me was definitely a surprise. They were wonderful. It would have been nicer to get a win against my old team, but I guess 1-1 everything is politically correct. I want to thank the fans for being so nice on my return."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY MIDFIELDER JOSH GARDNER
On the game:
"It was a little bit of a sloppy game. We really couldn't get the ball around through the midfield, out to switching back and forth."
LOS ANGELES GALAXY MIDFIELDER PETER VAGENAS
On his goal:
"It was something that Josh and I worked on the day before about laying it off to the other guy. He did a good job of rolling it over. It was obviously my off foot so I just wanted to keep it in the stadium and not miss the target. It wasn't the greatest shot. I think maybe the 'keeper had that covered but I got lucky, it went in."
On the game:
"Overall we are pretty disappointed. We've raised our level to where we want to and expect to win. Tonight I don't think we had our best performance."
