COLUMBUS CREW 2, KANSAS CITY WIZARDS 1
COLUMBUS CREW HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMID
On the game:
"I don't care how we played. I don't care what it looked like. A win's a win and we're very happy."
On goalkeeper Will Hesmer:
"I think Hesmer made the play of the game when he made the save on [Sasha] Victorine's shot with the score still 0-0. That's what you need from a goalkeeper to make that kind of save at that moment, and that keeps you in the game and then we went forward from there and scored a couple of goals."
On Eddie Gaven's goal:
"Eddie doesn't show a lot of emotion, but I think he was pretty happy and pretty relieved and I thought he did well with what was a difficult shot to turn and hit. I was happy for him, but he took the goal well."
On the Crew defense:
"Over the last four games prior to this we had scored eight goals so we thought our scoring was starting to come along but the thing was, we had been giving up a bucketful [of goals] on the other end. So one of our objectives today was transition to make sure we got behind the ball quickly to make sure that we limited goal scoring opportunities for the opponents, so that's one of the things we have to do.
"If you score three goals in New England it should be enough to win, if you score two goals in Chicago it should be enough to win, you know, so we couldn't keep leaking goals. That was our No. 1 objective today."
On defending late in the game:
"We were on our heels a little bit and they got a lot of corner kicks and pushed a lot of people forward. I thought Chad Marshall did a good job winning some of those headers. He got some where there were people open behind him and if he doesn't get a head on it, it could cause some problems."
COLUMBUS CREW GOALKEEPER WILL HESMER
On his growing confidence in his second start:
"I felt good. As bad as the start was in New England, you've got to put that behind you. I'm confident in my abilities. I believe in myself and I know what I can do out here. I think my teammates know that and I think Sigi knows that, so yeah, that feels great."
On team chemistry among the goalkeepers when a change is made in goal:
"Fortunately, all three of us are good guys and we all have a good relationship and are grounded and we genuinely want the best for each other. When Andy's playing, he's got two great supporters and when I'm playing, I feel the same way. We're all young, we all need to grow and none of us know everything about the game, so we all look to each other for advice and have a great relationship."
COLUMBUS CREW MIDFIELDER STEFANI MIGLIORANZI
On getting the start out of position, at left back:
"It's been a while since I played there. I'm just looking for an opportunity to help the team out. If coach asks me to play goalkeeper, I'd be happy to play. So, today I went out at left back, and I haven't played there in a long time, but I have played there in the past and I felt really comfortable. When you have people like Marcos [Gonzalez], Chad [Marshall] and Ezra [Hendrickson] on the back line with you who are all very experienced it makes the job that much easier."
On the team's recent play:
"We've been playing very well up to this point and things haven't been going our way, but we have kept our heads together, have kept focused and have kept encouraging each other throughout the whole time. Today was our battle; not the prettiest game, but it's better to win and play ugly, then to play beautifully and lose the game."
COLUMBUS CREW MIDFIELDER GUILLERMO BARROS SCHELOTTO
On becoming more familiar with his teammates:
"Obviously, as the days go by, I get to know the other players and they get to know me and that's what translates onto the field. Now when I get the ball, I know exactly where my teammates are, who is running, who is coming to the ball and things like that. Obviously, those are the small details that at the end of the day, make the difference."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS HEAD COACH CURT ONALFO
On the game:
"We had chances to put the ball in the back of the net and we didn't. Hats off to Columbus for getting the result."
On the Crew:
"I think they're a very good team. They have a lot of guys out and showed they have a lot of depth. They've been unfortunate with the results, but they're well coached and they're a good team like all MLS teams. You've got to be prepared to roll up your sleeves for 90 minutes."
On the Columbus goals:
"One the first one, somehow the ball kind of got bobbled and I thought Gaven did well to put that in the back of the net, and those things happen. The second was a set piece and in my mind that's unacceptable. We talked about Columbus and one of their biggest strengths is how they are on set pieces. To their credit, they did the job tonight."
KANSAS CITY WIZARDS DEFENDER JOSE BURCIAGA, JR.
On the game:
"We created some chances, but I think they knew what they're plan was and that was to play low pressure. They really kept a man tight on me and that's a credit to them. They were trying to play to their advantage, but I still think we played well. We created some chances. Hats off to Will [Hesmer]. I think he made a couple good saves for them that could have changed the game either way."
On playing on the road:
"It's always tough playing on the road. No matter where you play, no matter who you play, no matter what the record says, this league's getting to the point where you can't take any team lightly and it's going to be even tougher to play away from home. So, we've got a short week now and I think we've got to look at the mistakes we made tonight and then get ready for Sunday."
