Gino Padula's first MLS goal clinched the Columbus Crew's second consecutive Eastern Conference regular-season crown with a 1-0 victory against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.
Padula's long-distance free kick in the 36th minute eluded everyone inside the Revolution penalty area and bounced into the net to decide the match. The Crew survived Emmanuel Ekpo's 65th-minute dismissal for an arm to Kevin Alston's face by keeping tight at the back to ensure they wouldn't have to wait another week to seal top spot in the East and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs.
New England coach Steve Nicol made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 in Colorado last Saturday. Wells Thompson returned from a one-match ban to patrol the left wing, allowing Nicol to slide Kenny Mansally up top in place of Nico Colaluca. Jay Heaps recovered from a left hamstring strain to resume his duties at left back with Amaechi Igwe dropped to the bench. Edgaras Jankauskas (right adductor strain) and Jeff Larentowicz (right knee bone bruise) were left out of the squad entirely.
Six regular starters weren't in the Crew lineup for the first meeting between the two teams this season. Chad Marshall (left MCL sprain) missed out through injury, Frankie Hejduk, Robbie Rogers (both United States) and Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela) were away on international duty and Danny O'Rourke had to watch due to suspension. Crew head coach Robert Warzycha also left Guillermo Barros Schelotto on the bench with one eye towards the artificial surface.
Both sides attempted to press the tempo in the early stages with each enjoying spells of possession as the match opened. The endeavor on both sides wasn't matched by the rhythm, as fouls pockmarked the early stages and stunted the fluidity of the game.
Though both sides attempted to go forward, Columbus enjoyed the better of the chances in the early stages. Steven Lenhart headed an Ekpo free kick across the penalty area after 15 minutes, handing Eddie Gaven the chance to head narrowly over the bar from inside six yards. Padula created another chance minutes later after stripping Sainey Nyassi on the edge of the penalty area and crossing for Gaven to head wide at the far post.
Lenhart continued to make a nuisance of himself up top, but should have done better when Emilio Renteria chipped him through after 24 minutes. Lenhart made contact before Matt Reis rushed his line to challenge, but he dragged his effort wide of the mark.
Columbus finally grabbed the opening goal after 36 minutes as the New England back line made a hash of Padula's free kick. The Argentinean fullback's service asked a few questions of the Revolution back line as it dropped just in front of the goal area.
Emmanuel Osei and Reis couldn't answer then as Osei ducked out of the way when a header would have seen the ball clear and Reis didn't rush off his line to punch away the danger. The lack of communication permitted the ball to drop and bounce into the vacated goal to open the scoring.
Reis had to recover quickly deep into first-half stoppage time as Ekpo nearly caught the Revs' veteran goalkeeper off his line, but he recovered in time to punch the ball over the crossbar and ensure the Revolution would enter the break down only one goal.
Renteria and Lenhart combined again four minutes after the break to carve open the Revolution defense. Renteria's hold-up play drew both Darrius Barnes and Osei to him, creating an avenue to poke the ball across to tee up Lenhart for a one-timer with only Reis to beat. Instead of picking his corner, Lenhart sidefooted over the bar.
The match changed considerably on 65 minutes after Ekpo was shown a straight red card. The Nigerian winger jumped for a ball with Kevin Alston and lifted his arm to balance himself. Ekpo's arm caught Alston in the face, prompting referee Paul Ward to send him off.
New England soon inserted Nico Colaluca into the fray in Osei's place and switched to a 3-5-2 formation in an attempt to press additional bodies into the attacking third. The switch didn't pay off as Columbus held firm over the final 20 minutes to ensure it would repeat as the top seed from the Eastern Conference.
The Revolution remain in eighth place overall, narrowly clinging to their MLS Cup Playoffs berth, and next week face a massive match at home against the Chicago Fire. The Crew travel to Washington for a match against D.C. United, one of a host of teams desperately chasing New England for a wild card spot.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
