The Columbus Crew topped English Premier League side Fulham FC 2-1 Wednesday night at Crew Stadium in former Crew striker Brian McBride's return to Columbus. McBride played the second half of the match against the Black and Gold.
Crew midfielder Domenic Mediate scored the game-winner in the 86th minute after Fulham defender Zesh Rehman's clearance bounced straight to the rookie's feet following a deflection off 'keeper Jaroslav Drobny. Marcus Storey had given Columbus a 17th-minute lead, but an own goal pulled Fulham level just before halftime.
The winner came when it seemed the teams were destined to draw, as the pace and flow of play leveled off in the second half. Mario Rodriguez started the sequence by feeding John Wolyniec over the visitors' defense. Wolyniec tried to chip the 'keeper, and though Drobny appeared to have it covered, Rehman came through with a clearance attempt that went awry. Mediate made no misstep in punishing the error.
There was little difference between the sides in the first half, and after the teams traded a couple of harmless efforts on goal in the early going, the Crew took the lead after 17 minutes.
Rookie Eric Vasquez, who is becoming a fixture in central midfield under interim head coach Robert Warzycha, spread the ball wide to Danny Szetela, who delivered an inswinger from the right. The speedy University of North Carolina product Storey beat Fulham defender Moritz Volz to the ball at the back post to side-foot home the game's first goal.
For Fulham, Luis Boa Morte and Collins John were the main aggressors in the opening stanza. In the 16th minute, Liberian-born Dutch striker John fought off a handful of Crew defenders 15 yards from goal to turn and fire a shot that was deflected out for a corner. Fifteen minutes later, Boa Morte sprinted to the endline to drop a pass for striker Heider Helguson, but the Icelandic striker's shot went directly to Crew 'keeper Jonny Walker.
Helguson had another chance from a Boa Morte pass in the 38th minute, but again his shot was turned away by Walker. Finally, two minutes before the half, Boa Morte converted with the help of Crew defender Chris Wingert. After another dash to the endline, Boa Morte slipped a ball into the six-yard box, and with no Fulham shirts in sight, Wingert inadvertently tapped the ball home to put the visitors on the board.
After the break, McBride and former Fire defender Carlos Bocanegra entered as each side made a handful of changes. With the changes came a significant decrease in the speed and flow of play, though each team had its moments.
For the visitors, the best chance of the second half came just 10 minutes in, as summer signing Ahmad Elrich sent his shot wide after being sent in alone on goal. McBride had a pair of shots against his former mates, but did nothing to trouble substitute 'keeper Bill Gaudette.
The home side also saw very little action in the attacking third until Mediate's opportune winner. After the goal, Wolyniec nearly added the Crew's third in the closing stages, but his shot went wide left.
Fulham will take on the MLS All-Stars on Saturday in Columbus for the 2005 Sierra Mist All-Star Game.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
Fulham FC vs. Columbus Crew
July 27, 2005 -- Columbus Crew Stadium
Scoring Summary:
CLB -- Marcus Storey 1 (Danny Szetela 1, Eric Vasquez 1) 17
FFC -- own goal (Chris Wingert) 43
CLB -- Domenic Mediate 1 (unassisted) 86
Fulham FC -- Jaroslav Drobny, Mortiz Volz (Dean Lealock 46), Zat Knight (Sylvain Legwinski 78), Alain Goma (Carlos Bocanegra 46), Niclas Jensen, Luis Boa Morte (Michael Timlin 71), Claus Jensen, Zesh Rehman, Steed Malbranque (Ahmed Elrich 46), Heider Helguson (Brian McBride 46), Collins John (Tomasz Radzinski 61).
Substitutes Not Used: Mark Crossley.
TOTAL SHOTS: 17 (Collins John 3, Heider Helguson 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Heider Helguson 2); FOULS: 16 (5 tied with 2); OFFSIDES: 1 (Collins John 1); CORNER KICKS: 3 (Claus Jensen 3); SAVES: 2 (Jaroslav Drobny 2)
Columbus Crew -- Jonny Walker (Bill Gaudette 46), Chad Marshall, Chris Wingert, Robin Fraser (Mark Schulte 46), Danny Szetela, Simon Elliott (Mario Rodriguez 46), Eric Vasquez (Devin Barclay 64), Chris Henderson (Domenic Mediate 46), Kyle Martino (Jamal Sutton 46), Knox Cameron (John Wolyniec 59), Marcus Storey (Edson Buddle 59).
Substitutes Not Used: Ryan Kelly, Luis Gallardo.
TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (4 tied with 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (4 tied with 1); FOULS: 14 (Chris Wingert 5); OFFSIDES: 6 (Edson Buddle 2, Marcus Storey 2); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Devin Barclay 4); SAVES: 5 (Jonny Walker 4)
Misconduct Summary:
FFC -- Sylvain Legwinski (caution; Tackle from Behind) 78
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee's Assistants: -Jeffrey Mellen; Michael Salyers
4th Official: Dion Telting
Weather: Cloudy-and-67-degrees
All Statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.
