Crew lose handle against RSL in second leg
Defending champions knocked out of playoffs with 4-2 aggregate series loss
Related
- RSL shocks Crew, takes series on aggregate
- Highlights: RSL 3, CLB 2
Watch
- Schelotto opens Crew scoring
Watch
- Schelotto finds net again
Watch
- Relive with VW Game Nav
But that ideal start turned into a nightmare, one that the Crew will relive over a long offseason.
Real Salt Lake scored the next three goals and won the game 3-2 and the two-game series 4-2 to dethrone the defending MLS Cup champions on Thursday at Crew Stadium.
 |
"We played well enough to get where we needed to be. It was 2-1 on aggregate. It was exactly where we wanted," Crew midfielder Danny O'Rourke said. "Credit them. They're a good team. Anytime they can score three goals on the road they deserve to win."
Schelotto, benched during the 1-0 loss at Real Salt Lake on Saturday in the first leg, responded as the team's leading scorer would. He netted a long free kick goal in the 19th minute to tie the score on aggregate then put Columbus ahead in the 35th with a strike from the top of the penalty area.
"I had a positive today scoring goals but it did no good for us to get to the second round. It's more important for me to get to second round," he said.
The goals gave him 14 for the season in all competitions but were his first since Sept. 20 as he battled through injuries and limited playing time from coach Robert Warzycha.
"That was the Guillermo I remember from the beginning of the season and the playoff games last season," Warzycha said. "He is a big part of the team. If he plays like this he gives me no choice (but to play him). I was happy with his performance today."
The turning point was a Javier Morales score just two minutes following Schelotto's second goal.
"It's disappointing. We had a dream start to the game," Hesmer said. "The attitude was right. The energy was right then all of a sudden we lose focus. Our team defending on the first goal was poor. It's the one I came closest to. After that they got some momentum."
RSL got an even bigger boost in the first minute of first-half stoppage time when referee Baldomero Toledo called captain Frankie Hejduk for fouling Fabian Espindola in the penalty area. Robbie Findley easily converted and the visitors went into the locker room tied at 2-2 but ahead again in the aggregate.
"I really have to look at the tape on that second one. In a crucial game like this to call a PK like that when guys are falling, both guys pulling each other, you don't call a PK. You don't do it," O'Rourke said. "It's like someone fouling the 3-point shooter and barely touching him on an NCAA final. Whatever. That's what he saw. I didn't see the same thing."
Andy Williams completed the comeback for RSL with a goal from 18 yards in the 74th minute that skipped past everybody, including Hesmer.
That gave RSL a two-goal aggregate advantage but the 'keeper said the damage had already been inflicted.
"I haven't seen a replay of the penalty but considering how things were called maybe Espindola should have been called for one on the first goal," Hesmer said. "I'm not blaming anybody but we lost momentum there then they kind of snuck a fluky goal in."
Warzycha was not happy with Toledo as well, claiming he missed several clear handballs while the series was in doubt.
"It's sad to be honest with you because those guys deserved a fair judgment from the referee. Obviously, he didn't have a good game," he said. "(The penalty) was a very crucial moment of the game. I'm not saying that's why the season is shorter than we wished but we had some help from him."
He said the Crew should never have been in position to lose.
"Everybody contributed to these two (Crew) goals and we got the lead. We should protect a two-goal lead," he said. "We gave up three goals. I'm not going to play anybody. I'm going to watch the tape. We gave up three goals as a team. Will Hesmer didn't give up three goals.
"Sometimes the better team doesn't win. That's the beauty of the sport -- the team that plays attractive soccer, the team that plays good soccer doesn't win."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com
