The Columbus Crew and Chivas USA swapped goals before settling for a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening at Crew Stadium. A free kick by Chivas USA's Juan Pablo Garcia minutes into the second half negated an early first half tally by the Crew's Jose Retiz to leave each team with a share of the points.
In a match which both clubs needed the full points to keep pace in their respective conferences, Chivas stuck with the same side that defeated the Crew 2-0 at home on Sunday and tied the Rapids 1-1 on Wednesday. On the other hand, the Crew made four changes -- including a new strike tandem -- from the squad that tied the New England Revolution 1-1 in a midweek match.
Jason Garey and Kei Kamara got the nod up top, replacing Knox Cameron and Joseph Ngwenya. With Rusty Pierce out with an injured hamstring, Ritchie Kotschau stepped into the center of the back three, and Ezra Hendrickson returned to the lineup against his former club in place of Tim Ward.
The home side began in the night in the best possible fashion, as the early goal from Retiz gave the Crew a first-half lead for just the second time of the season.
Eddie Gaven stole the ball and poked it to Retiz, who unleashed a shot from 35 yards that appeared to be going towards the near post. An unfortunate defection by Jason Hernandez sent the ball towards the far post, and Chivas 'keeper Preston Burpo was unable to react as the ball looped into the back of the net.
The early goal unlocked a Crew offense that has been dormant much of the season. Retiz nearly doubled the lead with another left-footed rocket from distance from a free kick in the 22nd minute.
After another free kick, the Crew had a great series of close chances. After Kljestan was booked for a foul on Garey, Burpo expertly parried Gaven's free kick from just left of center. On the ensuing corner kick, Chad Marshall set up a volley for Kamara despite being knocked down to the ground. Kamara's volley beat Burpo, but Chivas fullback Jonathan Bornstein was perfectly placed to clear the ball off of the line. Just minutes later, Burpo again denied Gaven with a diving save.
Chivas almost matched the Crew shot for shot in the first half, but none of the attempts forced a save out of Noah Palmer. Just before the break, Juan Francisco Palencia approached the goal from an acute angle. The striker tried to squeeze the ball through an opening between Palmer and the near post, but the shot only found side netting.
Just two minutes into the second half, Retiz continued his long-range assault on Chivas goal. After receiving a square ball from Kamara, Retiz struck a shot barely wide from 22 yards.
The Crew's inability to finish one of their many chances would come back to bite them nine minutes into the second half. Hendrickson fouled Bornstein near the corner of the penalty area. On the free kick, Juan Pablo Garcia tallied for the third match in a row with a shot that arched over Palmer into the far corner of the goal.
With the equalizing goal in hand, Chivas nearly quickly struck for the lead. A meandering run by Francisco Mendoza in 58th minute cut through the Crew defense in an uncharacteristically easy fashion, but his final touch harmlessly rolled slightly wide of the target.
The Crew tried to take back the lead in the 77th minute, but Kamara was unable to put a shot on goal despite being unmarked. A low ball was aimed for Cameron at the back post, and although poked away, the poor clearance went to Kamara for a chance the rookie would like to have back.
The better attacking play by Chivas in the second half continued with a nice effort by Mendoza. The Chivas midfielder was left open on the left flank and tested Palmer at the end of a quality buildup, but the Crew 'keeper kept the match tied with a nice save.
The Crew beat an offside trap in the 86th minute, but the Crew attack destructed before getting a shot on goal. Gaven put Cameron behind the Chivas defense, and he tried to find fellow substitute Ngwenya with a low cross. But the pass was deflected away by the Chivas defense in the final thrust of the contest to leave the sides sharing the spoils.
John Kuhn is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
