BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Columbus Crew did not get the win they needed Sunday to claim the 2008 MLS Supporters' Shield.
Former Crew forward Brian McBride scored twice Sunday, the second one at the 79-minute mark, to lift the Chicago Fire to a 2-2 tie with the Crew at Toyota Park. With the draw, the Fire became the fifth team to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, joining Columbus and New England in the Eastern Conference, and Houston and Chivas USA in the West.
However, in the end, it didn't matter. When the Houston Dynamo and D.C. United played to a draw Sunday night, the Crew still won the coveted award for the second time in club history. Now with 54 points, the Crew are 7-0-2 in their last nine games.
The Crew took a 2-1 lead by scoring twice two minutes apart midway through the second half. But that explosion of scoring came as a result of a failed scoring chance two minutes before the first Crew goal.
Down 1-0, Robbie Rogers took advantage of a surprise restart and sent a cross to Eddie Gaven inside the six-yard box. Gaven's header went wide left, but the Crew suddenly got serious about their offense at that point.
The first Crew goal came in the 59th minute on a mistake by Fire defender Wilman Conde. With the ball bouncing around inside the box, Conde had an easy opportunity to clear the ball but kicked it hard directly at Gaven, who was standing alone inside the arc atop the 18-yard box. Gaven one-timed a rocket into the right corner past Fire goalkeeper and former Crew member Jon Busch.
Two minutes later, on a counterattack, Rogers was on the right side and sent a cross to Guillermo Barros Schelotto for a scoring header from inside the goal area.
After taking the lead, the Crew battled a couple of Fire scoring chances. In the 76th minute, Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent a backheel to McBride, who crossed the ball to Stephen King in front of the goal, but King did not have a clear shot at the goal.
Two minutes later, Blanco had a free kick from the right side, and the kick scooted inside the 18-yard box, where Conde put a touch on the ball, sending it left to McBride, who collected the ball and then fired it into the right corner for a 2-2 score.
McBride gave the Fire a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute when a corner kick by Justin Mapp was allowed to bounce inside the six-yard box and McBride had an easy left-footed shot past Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer.
The Crew avoided another goal in the 38th minute after Fire forward Chris Rolfe dribbled past Crew defender Chad Marshall and sent a cross to McBride in front of Hesmer. McBride's touch was too soft and Hesmer had an easy save.
The Crew were credited with only one shot on goal in the first half while the Fire had three.
The Crew played without forward Alejandro Moreno and defender Frankie Hejduk due to World Cup commitments. Forward Pat Noonan played in place of Moreno and Andy Iro on the back line in place of Hejduk.
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
