There must be something about rickety, old RFK Stadium and the nation's capitol that brings the best out of Alejandro Moreno.
The Venezuelan born striker put the finishing touches on a night in which Argentina was the featured South American nation.
Lauded as the "Yankee Superclassico" featuring the Crew's Argentine legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto of Boca Juniors and United's Marcelo Gallardo, from cross-town rival River Plate, it was Moreno that played the cool sidekick.
Moreno scored his third goal of the season in the 32nd minute as Columbus defeated D.C. United 2-1 to vault the Crew into first place in the Eastern Conference. The tally was his fifth career goal against DC United in twelve games, all at the venerable stadium.
He was initially credited with what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the 43rd minute after he out-jumped Gonzalo Peralta and another United defender to a crafty chip by Adam Moffat on the goal line. But after review, it was deemed that Peralta provided the final force that got the ball just over the goal line, hence changing the score to an own goal.
"I was telling some of the guys earlier that this is a tough place to play but I've had some good games here," said a somewhat perplexed but happy Moreno. "For whatever reason, every time I step on this field things work out my way and for the team."
His coach however, fondly remembers another one game in particular when the two were together in Los Angeles. "I told Alejandro the last time we came in here early in a season when I was coaching you, you got three," said Crew coach Sigi Schmidt.
Moreno scored at RFK last year in an October match against United but it was back on May 19, 2004 when he had his career day. Moreno torched United for three goals in an eight-minute span late in the first half to stun and silence the boisterous United faithful on their way to 4-2 rout.
Moreno outworked the bigger and more physical United defenders the entire match, constantly getting into dangerous spaces in a match that was by no means artistic despite the presence of the talented artisans.
"He's a workhorse. He's often doing the dirty work that no one recognizes and you know he is going to give more than 100 percent every game," said veteran defender Frankie Hejduk, who got the primary assist on Moreno's first goal following a strong run into the penalty area and a deft pass from Schelotto to get him free. "All of his goals are well deserved."
Moreno and Schelotto have developed a stronger understanding of each other since the Argentine legend arrived in Columbus late last season.
"He's been great ever since we started playing with each other last year. We compliment each other quite well and he knows my strengths and I know his strengths and we try to look for each other," said Moreno about playing in tandem with Schelotto.
"I got to find open spaces," continued Moreno. "The more I find open spaces the more he is going to find me and that way we are more dangerous. The more we get together the more it allows Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven to get in behind defenders and it creates opportunities for them as well."
With Moreno's and the Crew's early season success expectations will certainly become loftier. Performances like this however, will quell the lingering doubts as to whether Moreno is good enough to be the main threat for the Crew.
"Everybody said 'Alejandro is your center forward; is he a goal scorer', well he's got three in four games," added Schmidt. "My expectation is that he is going to get 10-15 goals for us this year and if he can do that, that helps us a great deal."
Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
