The Columbus Crew reverted to a more veteran lineup but could not convert several opportunities in a 1-0 loss at D.C. United on a cold, rainy night at RFK Stadium.
The Crew gave up an early Luciano Emilio tally and limited United to barely a whisper at goal in the second half but could not pierce the solid play of Steve Cronin, United's recently acquired goalkeeper.
Columbus has now lost two of its last three matches, but with its 1-0 win last weekend at New England has sealed home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs. The loss means, however, the club's bid to repeat as winners of the Supporters' Shield will go down to the final week.
With both teams working to get a feel for the soggy playing conditions over the first quarter-hour, United struck soon thereafter on a fantastic goal from Emilio in the 17th minute.
A definitive run from the right side to the top of the penalty area by Boyzzz Khumalo was the spearhead, stepping around Danny O'Rourke and pushing a clever ball past both Jed Zayner and Kevin Burns to the slashing Emilio. The streaky striker in turn flicked the ball over the charging William Hesmer, but with barely enough pace to get over the goal line ahead of O'Rourke's valiant recovery attempt to make the score 1-0.
O'Rourke and Adam Moffat among others returned to the starting XI as Crew head coach Robert Warzycha flipped half of his 10 field players from the younger group that got the full three points at New England.
Robbie Rogers returned to patrol the left flank, three days after delivering the assist in the final seconds of stoppage time in the U.S. national team's dramatic 2-2 draw with Costa Rica on Wednesday. Right back Frankie Hejduk was also back after his call in to the national team where he did not see any action. Guillermo Barros Schelotto also returned, playing just 56 minutes however, while former United ironman Brian Carroll did not make the trip to his old stomping grounds.
Rogers contributed immediately, nearly drawing the Crew even in the 25th minute with a strong left-footed side volley from just inside the top left corner of the penalty area, requiring Cronin to extend high and hard to his left on the shot labeled for the far top corner for his first big save of the night. United recently acquired Cronin on loan from the USL-1 Portland Timbers after starter Josh Wicks was lost for the season to injury.
Cronin was tested again in the 40th minute on a strong header from Eddie Gaven from just outside the 6-yard box off a well floated ball from the left flank. Gaven had just returned to the park moments earlier after going off for a brief spell following a hard collision with Hesmer as both vied for a dangerous Christian Gomez free kick from the right flank.
The Crew adapted much better to the cold and rain than their home counterparts, winning most of the 50-50 challenges and justly garnering more of the quality possession. That continued into the second half but the yellow shirted visitors could not get the final clean ball to break through.
As the rain streamed down at an even quicker rate as the half moved along, United were poised to get maximum numbers behind the ball, clearing content to absorb anything the Crew had to offer and counter when the opportunities became available.
Cronin continued his solid play however, punching a Gaven cross safely over the bar in the 62nd minute and resoundingly clearing away a Hejduk floater nine minutes later. In between those, he cleanly handled another dangerous near-post cross from Rodgers from the right flank.
In hopes of somehow altering the match, forward Jason Garey came on in favor of Schelotto in the 56th minute. Then Emilio Renteria, who came on for Steve Lenhart in the 66th minute, darted past two United defenders, but his right-footed shot from just inside the penalty area skidded wide of the far post two minutes later.
The Venezuelan striker did not make it to the final whistle, however. He was ejected by referee Alex Prus for chopping down Julius James out of bounds after the ball rolled over the end line in the 83rd minute.
United saw out the final minutes safely with little threat, keeping their playoff hopes alive. The Crew will now face a match against another playoff contender, the New England Revolution, next Sunday in the final game of the 2009 regular season.
Chris Snear is a contributor to MLSnet.com
