Garey, Lenhart impress in fill-in duty
Crew attackers make most of limited opportunities
He was in the thoughts of Jason Garey when asked if he and forward mate Steven Lenhart would hold their starting jobs of the past two games when Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno return from injuries.
"Sigi told us our job is to make their job very difficult," Garey said. "Right now we're making the coaches' job very difficult. Who are they going to pick? It's a better situation than them knowing who's going to start every game. Everybody is pushing each other and the guys who are coming back are going to have to get into training and really battle and try to win their spot. I'm looking forward to that."
Ironically, it was Garey who never seemed to be in the mix last season under Schmid. After missing the first third of the season with injuries he appeared in only 10 matches, none of them starts. However, he did score three times in only 128 minutes of action.
Garey has made five starts among nine appearances this season although he missed four games with an ankle sprain. He has four goals, none bigger than his header from Frankie Hejduk's cross in the 92nd minute to give the Crew a 3-2 win Saturday over Toronto FC and sole possession of the longest home unbeaten streak in MLS history (19 games).
While Schelotto, the 2008 MLS MVP, and Moreno, the Crew goal leader last season with nine, were out, Garey had three goals and Lenhart two among the team's six scores in a pair of wins.
"We're on the same page not just thinking soccer-wise. We both understand we're going to work hard," Lenhart said of Garey. "We don't play like Guillermo or Ale, but what we do is work hard and if we're called on we'll play hard. I respect the coach's decision whatever happens."
Coach Robert Warzycha will wait on the status of Schelotto and Moreno before deciding later in the week the lineup for Saturday's match at Colorado.
"It's just anything I can do for the team, to be honest. Competition is good," said Lenhart. "I haven't really thought about it. We definitely have capable guys."
It seems inconceivable the Crew would keep the Schelotto, the league goal leader this season, on the bench if he is 100 percent healthy but the mile-high altitude is not the most hospitable place to bring a player back from injury.
"We'll see when he comes back. We'll make a decision," Warzycha said. "Obviously Guillermo is a very, very good player. He leads the league with 10 goals but also with Jason and Steve, they are very dangerous forwards.
"I'm very, very happy to have a problem like this."
More of those "good" headaches are in store for Warzycha.
Center midfielder Adam Moffat played 17 minutes against Toronto after missing 11 games with a strained hamstring. Also, Chad Marshall, the 2008 MLS Defender of the Year, and midfielder Robbie Rogers, a Best XI selection last year, return this week after missing four matches while playing for the U.S. in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Duncan Oughton played well on the right side the past two matches when Eddie Gaven flipped sides to occupy Rogers' spot on the left flank. Gaven had the opening goal Saturday in the first half before Lenhart got the equalizer in the 76th to fuel the comeback.
Marshall is not a lock to resume his center back position this week. After a tough Gold Cup run -- culminating in a 5-0 loss to Mexico on Sunday -- he will be in Sandy, Utah, for Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game vs. Everton. The number of minutes he plays could determine whether he starts at Colorado.
The Crew (7-3-9, 30 points) finally reached first in the Eastern Conference -- no easy feat after two losses and two ties in its first four matches. Although it didn't get its first win until the eighth game it is 7-1-7 in the past 15.
Not only did the Crew improve to 13-0-6 at home since June 28, 2008, to break San Jose's home undefeated record, it also took a one-point lead over Chicago; moved two up on D.C. United and four ahead of Toronto FC.
"The main thing was to separate ourselves from (TFC) and the pack a little bit. That was huge. I tie wouldn't have really separated ourselves," Hejduk said. "It's huge for momentum. It gives us confidence going on the road because the road is never easy. At the end of the day we're taking it day-to-day."
Columbus is two points back of West leader Houston in the battle to defend its Supporters' Shield that goes to the team with the most points. The Crew can't look too far ahead, though, with two consecutive road games before returning to the friendly confines of Crew Stadium on Aug. 15 vs. FC Dallas. The Crew are 1-3-5 on the road and has scored more than one goal only once.
Lenhart thinks the Crew can build on Saturday's dramatic rally.
"It gives us a lot of confidence and momentum but you can't stray from what we're good at -- working hard and as a team," he said. "As long as we keep working hard and having fun it will pay off."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
