The third annual Tom Fitzgerald Memorial Match was held Thursday night in Tampa, the Columbus Crew using a pair of second-half goals to put down Real Salt Lake in preseason play. In other action around Major League Soccer, the league's two Los Angeles-based teams each took the field on the West Coast, the Galaxy defeating Loyola Marymount University and Chivas USA falling to the U.S. U-23 national team.
At the University of South Florida, an an early strike by Atiba Harris had RSL in front of the Crew in the annual charity match in memory of former Crew coach Tom Fitzgerald, who was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in December 2004. Harris was the beneficiary of a pass from Mehdi Ballouchy just 12 minutes after kickoff.
The play started when 2006 MLS Golden Boot winner Jeff Cunningham was fouled, but his quick restart sent Ballouchy free down the left wing. His pass to the far post found Harris, who supplied the finishing touch to open the scoring.
The 1-0 RSL lead held until halftime, but the Crew struck back just before the hour mark. Columbus capitalized on a poor clearance by Salt Lake goalkeeper Chad Harrison and Duncan Oughton found the back of the net to tie the score. Just minutes later rookie Aaron Chandler was sent in on a breakaway and tucked the ball home for what proved to be the game-winner. It was the fourth-round draft pick's second goal of the preseason for Columbus.
On the other side of the country, the Galaxy claimed victory in their first game of the 2007 preseason. Newcomer Robbie Findley beat a pair of LMU defenders and hit the target seven minutes after kickoff to put L.A. in front at The Home Depot Center. A late goal by Laurent Merlin scored with a simple tap-in sealed the win.
The Galaxy's rivals, though, weren't as successful. Chivas USA fell to their former head coach Bob Bradley and the U.S. U-23s. Chivas midfielder Sacha Kljestan lined up against his current club, as he is currently in training camp with the U-23 side.
New England Revolution draftee Adam Cristman put the U.S. side on top while Houston Dynamo defender Patrick Ianni scored the insurance goal. Chivas goalkeeper also Brad Guzan stopped a first-half penalty kick from Kljestan.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
