Crew stunned late in CCL clash with Saprissa

Columbus needs tie or Saprissa loss in final matches to qualify for quarterfinals

Walter Centeno bent the restart from 35 yards toward the far post where Robinson pushed Crew midfielder Adam Moffat to the ground for the open header that went through the legs of goalkeeper William Hesmer.

Robbie Rogers converted a first-half penalty and the Crew were about a minute away from clinching second in Group C and a berth in the quarterfinals in March.

Columbus (2-1-1, 7 points) is two points up on Saprissa (1-2-2) with one match left. The Crew needs a tie at Puerto Rico on Oct. 20 in the final match to claim second even if Saprissa beats group leader Cruz Azul at home because the Crew beat Saprissa earlier to hold the tiebreaker.

Rogers' penalty came in the 27th minute off a clean strike to the lower left while goalkeeper Keilor Navas went the other way.

It wasn't supposed to be Rogers over the ball but Schelotto was unavailable at the time after being rudely fouled three minutes earlier by Walter Centeno with a studs-up challenge with the right boot that bloodied Schelotto's right leg. Centeno was issued a yellow card for the offense.

Schelotto went to the sideline to get the injury addressed and was not allowed back on the field until after the goal. He is 8-for-8 on penalties in his MLS career, but Rogers calmly stepped in and hit the ball with authority.

Saprissa responded to the deficit and almost got the leveler in the 34th when Kendall Watson got on the end of a free kick from Centeno with his right leg. His attempt from inside the 6-yard box was wide left.

Rogers tried to add a second score but was off target from close range on a header via Frankie Hejduk's cross in the 42nd.

A major defensive breakdown by the Crew nearly allowed Saprissa to tie the score in the 76th minute. Centeno's corner kick went to an unmarked Douglas Sequeira for a header. It was headed for the right post but defender Gino Padula was there to block the ball with his midsection.

The Crew had nine of 11 shots in the first half and 10 of 19 fouls on a chilly evening. It was 56 degrees with brisk winds at kickoff. Several of the Saprissa players wore gloves with their long sleeve shirts.

Saprissa was aggressive as expected coming out of the break but the Crew weathered the first 10 minutes then let speedy Emmanuel Ekpo have a try at cracking the defense. He sliced through several players in the 57th for a shot from 15 yards. Navas came off the line to make a beauty of a kick save with his right leg and Ekpo's header off the rebound went right of the post.

After keeping half of its field starters on the bench last Saturday during a 2-0 win over Los Angeles, Crew coach Robert Warzycha returned to his bug guns beginning with Schelotto.

Columbus returns to MLS play Saturday when they host Seattle Sounders FC as Sigi Schmid returns for the first time to the grounds he coached for three years, including last season's MLS Cup.

The Crew have already clinched a playoff spot but looks to secure its hold on the Eastern Conference and the Supporters' Shield for a second straight year.

Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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