Steven Lenhart and Robbie Rogers scored to give the Crew a win in their first game in the CONCACAF Champions League tonight. The Puerto Rico Islanders set up a stingy defense in front of goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, but in the end the Crew created too many chances to be denied. The Crew's next game will be next Wednesday, away to Cruz Azul in Mexico City.
Columbus entered their first meaningful international match in six years knowing exactly what they faced - a determined, defensive team that has made a name for itself by knocking off bigger clubs. To no one's surprise, both teams started with close to their first-choice starting lineups, and the pattern of play quickly established itself. Puerto Rico played with a single forward, dropping nine field players behind the ball as much as they could, trusting in their central defenders Nigel Henry and John Krause to be able to deal with any longer balls played over the top. Defensive midfielders Daniel Gargan and James Marcelin did their job very well, appearing at times as a second pair of central defenders.
For their part the Crew strung long stretches of passes together, probing the edges of the Islanders shape to look for a weak spot. Their forays up both flanks yielded plenty of opportunities to send balls in for Alejandro Moreno, but throughout the first half they connected on very few attempts.
The first half finished with the Crew registering eight shots (three on goal), to only a single shot (wide right) from Puerto Rico. Which is not to say the half was without incident, as a trio of Puerto Rico players earned yellow cards and Guillermo Barros Schelotto had an appeal for a penalty kick denied.
The best chance of the first half, however, came via the feet of referee Roberto Moreno. He was unable to avoid a centering pass from Robbie Rogers, and as the ball glanced off his feet it was picked up by Islanders winger Petter Villegas. The resulting shot missed the right post by less than a yard, drawing angry shouts from a handful of Crew players on the field.
Coach Robert Warzycha made a tactical shift at halftime, sending on Steven Lenhart for Jed Zayner, switching the Crew to a three-man back line in favor of Lenhart's physical presence up top.
That move paid off in the 58th minute, as Lenhart opened the scoring off a centering pass from Chad Marshall. The play developed from a Crew free kick, and the ball eventually found its way to Marshall, two yards off the end line from the left side of the goal mouth. His centering pass was reached first by Lenhart, slamming the ball home from close range.
That goal was the first conceded by Puerto Rico's starters in almost two months, but it would not be the last.
Puerto Rico was forced to play more aggressively and positively after falling behind, taking more chances to try and salvage a point on the road. For as much as they came out of their shell, however, they were unable to register a shot on goal until after the lead was 2-0.
The game's second goal came in similar fashion to the first, with the Crew finishing a loose ball inside the penalty area. This time, it was Robbie Rogers who was first to the spot, converting an assist from Alejandro Moreno in the 79th minute.
Once the familiar two-goal cusion had been built, the Crew were able to relax a bit, taking more time to find the open players, whereever they might be on the field. Puerto Rico continued to push forward to try and pull a goal back, but never truly threatened to chip away at the Crew's lead.
Up Next
The next match for the Crew comes in a week, as the team travels to Mexico City to take on Cruz Azul on August 26th. Their next home game in this competition will be on September 23rd, also against Cruz Azul. Puerto Rico will travel to Costa Rica to play Saprissa on August 25th.
