An optimist will point out that the Columbus Crew are 7-0-2 in their last nine games following Sunday's 2-2 tie against the Chicago Fire.
A pessimist will point out the Crew had a 2-1 lead in the 61st minute of the game at Toyota Park and let the win slip away on a set piece in the 79th minute.
Former Crew captain Brian McBride scored twice for the Chicago Fire, his third and fourth goals since joining the Fire in August, and the Fire tied the Crew to earn the point they needed to clinch a playoff spot.
Despite not getting the win that could have secured it outright, the Crew (54 points) still clinched the Supporters' Shield, which goes to the team with the best regular season record. In many soccer leagues around the world, there are no playoffs and the regular season champion is the league champion.
The Crew laid claim to the Shield for the second time in club history after the Houston Dynamo (44 points) played to a scoreless draw Sunday night with D.C. United.
A draw on the road is not the worst thing in the world, and Crew coach Sigi Schmid came away resigned to the idea that the result was better than a loss.
"When you look at the whole game, it was probably a fair result," Schmid said. "If you can go on the road and get a tie, in a difficult place to play like here, it is not all bad. We know the first 45 minutes was not good from us, and the second 45 was better. But when we get a 2-1 lead, we have to hold on to it."
The Crew last lost on Aug. 2, a 2-0 defeat by the Houston Dynamo on the road. That was also the last time, before Sunday, they had allowed more than one goal in a game.
"We can be happy with this point," midfielder Robbie Rogers said. "I thought we could have got more. We were unfortunate at the end, with some sketchy calls that gave them free kicks that were kind of ridiculous. But we did a good job to come back and score goals."
The game had a peculiar rhythm, with very little happening early. McBride's first goal was odd as well, coming off a corner kick in the 13th minute.
Fire midfielder Justin Mapp sent the kick toward the far post and miraculously, it went untouched until it bounced in front of McBride, who kicked it off the bounce into the right corner.
The Crew had only one official shot on goal in the first half, and didn't do much in the second half until the 56th minute, when 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 that was when the Crew suddenly got serious about their attack.
"The first half we played too slowly, like we were trying to take shortcuts," Schmid said. "In the second half, we came out a lot sharper. Guillermo (Barros Schelotto) and (Pat) Noonan were closer to each other and that connection was better. We started creating chances."
The first Crew goal came 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 goalkeeper Jon Busch for his second goal of the season.
Two minutes later, on a counter-attack, Rogers was on the right side and sent a cross for Schelotto to head home from inside the 6-yard box. Schelotto now has seven goals to go with his 18 assists.
The Fire came close a couple of times in response, before scoring the equalizer in the 79th minute. 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) is a magnet; the ball is going to find him," Schmid said. "So we have to mark him, and the guy assigned to mark him wasn't there twice."
That free kick, among other calls, irritated the Crew.
"There were some advantageous calls there," Schmid said. "We didn't get a call on the other end of the field because maybe the player is not as prominent. But my major disappointment on us is that we gave up two set-piece goals."
So the 2-2 result extended the Crew's unbeaten streak, and it is a good streak to have with only two games remaining before the start of the playoffs.
"This team has been on a roll," Gaven said. "We haven't lost in nine games, knock on wood. I think guys don't want to take their foot off the pedal and keep going through the playoffs."
Schmid's starting lineup had to account for not having Alejandro Moreno or Frankie Hejduk due to World Cup qualifying. Andy Iro played in the back for Hejduk and Pat Noonan was in Moreno's starting forward spot. Rogers, along with Hejduk, have been called in by the U.S. national team for their World Cup qualifying match Wednesday against Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain. The USA has already secured passage to the CONCACAF final hexagonal.
"I think we are ready, and I think we have been ready the last few weeks," Rogers said. "I think we are clicking. We have to stay healthy, rest some guys but find a way to stay sharp."
Kent McDill is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
