The Columbus Crew have capped off their dream season with their first ever MLS Cup. Yesterday afternoon's 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls wasn't as decisive as the score might indicate but it was enough to finish the Crew's impressive season on a good note.
Guillermo Barros Schelotto wasn't the MVP of the league, and of the game, for no reason. He simply tore up the Red Bulls, tallying three assists in the process. His most impressive; a chip through ball that allowed for Crew defender Franke Hejduk to head the ball over an oncoming Danny Cepero. Schelotto's patience, creativity and touch were all on display on that single play.
The first half saw Juan Carlos Osorio's group attack more and looked poised to pull off yet another upset. But inaccuracy and sloppy defending prevented that as a timid Columbus Crew offense drew first blood with a goal in the 31st minute.
The second set of 45 minutes saw the Crew respond with a much stronger performance and the Red Bulls began to falter. Schelotto stepped up and took control of the game as he curled in a corner that led to Chad Marshall's 53rd minute response to John Wolyniec's equalising strike two minutes prior. And the Argentine midfielder sealed things off with a beautiful assist to Hejduk in the 82nd minute.
There were some negatives though. As I had claimed earlier in the playoffs, Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero, who was outstanding throughout the post-season, was too inexperienced to not make one costly mistake. He kept proving me wrong, but the inexperience showed on the Crew' first goal yesterday.
Schelotto released Alejandro Moreno down the right flank with a long distance pass. As the veteran forward received the pass he took a couple of steps and noticed that Cepero was cheating too much towards the near post. Moreno released a low shot to the far post that the Red Bulls goalkeeper got a piece of, but it still managed to find the side netting, which in turn set the tone for the Crew's first MLS title.
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