Although the Columbus Crew again failed to score more than one goal, one was enough for the second consecutive week as the Crew, behind a brilliant solo effort by newly acquired Ned Grabavoy, defeated the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on a rainy Saturday evening at Crew Stadium.
Grabavoy caught a red-eye flight Friday night from California, along with Joseph Ngwenya, after they were obtained from the Los Angeles Galaxy and led the Crew to their first home win of the season in their third attempt. With the win, Columbus keeps pace with the New England Revolution in third place in the Eastern Conference.
The one goal held up due to the fine play of the Crew's defensive unit, despite being rearranged due to injury and suspension. Chris Leitch started at left back as the backline needed to replace Chad Marshall, who fractured and dislocated his septum against Real Salt Lake. Additionally, Tim Ward slid into the midfield to replace the suspended Jose Retiz.
Columbus came out of the gate strong and held much of the early possession. The best chance came when Ngwenya found Jason Garey with a through ball, but Rapids defender Aitor Karanka tackled the ball away before the rookie could add to last week's goal, his first as a professional.
It also turned out to be the closest thing Joe Cannon came to stopping a shot Saturday. The rain left the field slippery, the effects of which dominated the early portion of the match. Then on a routine clearance in the 10th minute, Cannon injured his right groin.
Making his first MLS appearance, Bouna Coundoul replaced Cannon -- and either nerves or the wet conditions led the substitute 'keeper to mishandle several touches and make Colorado coach Fernando Clavijo anxious. However, the entertaining play by the netminders was not limited to Coundoul.
Following a Crew turnover in the midfield, Jovan Kirovski fired right at Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch from 25 yards in the 21st minute, but it handcuffed the Crew 'keeper. Fortunately for Busch, he got enough of the ball to keep it out of the net and was able to recover before any Rapids players could threaten.
The play shifted in favor of the visitors at this point for the remainder the half, but a pair of good chances for the Rapids ended unsuccessfully. Dedi Ben-Dayan found Nicolas Hernandez, but the Argentine striker's full volley went over the target. A nice piece of passing a few minutes later should have ended better, but Ben-Dayan misfired well wide of the goal on a wide-open shot from 15 yards.
The Rapids remained in control in the second stanza, but none of the visitors' attempts were able to beat Busch. Busch, the only Columbus starter on Saturday who played for the Crew last season, thwarted chances by Hunter Freeman and Hernandez from close range while several attempts by Kirovski and Ben-Dayan from distance did not threaten.
The Crew made the Rapids pay for the missed chances as the home side scored against the run of play in the 74th minute. Substitute Grabavoy received the ball 25 yards from goal and singlehandedly gave his new team the lead. With Ngwenya on his outside, Grabavoy faked a pass so that he could cut inside and beat several defenders before putting his shot inside the far post.
Once with the lead, Columbus found new energy and held the Rapids at bay for the last quarter of an hour. Garey nearly put the match out of reach in the 90th minute, but Coundoul stopped his one-on-one attempt.
The Crew finishes a brief home stand against D.C. United next Saturday while the Rapids travel to Los Angeles to play the Galaxy on the same evening.
John Kuhn is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
