Following are the first round pairings for the 2009 MLS Playoffs.

Columbus Crew coach Robert Warzycha

(giving the start to Jason Garey and Steven Lenhart)

Absolutely, they did a very good job. They combined together, it seemed like they had a lot of energy on the field, they were very aggressive, and they caused a lot of problems for the defenders. They scored all three goals.

(playing Duncan Oughton on the flank?)

Yeah, probably; I see this guy every day, so that's why I decided to go with him. Duncan played pretty well today. There was a lot of understanding between him and Frankie, and also between him and Brian Carroll. There was a lot of one-touch passes on that side, and that's how we brought the pressure. Duncan did very well today.

(goals coming from having players in the box)

Well, obviously for this game, this tactic that we chose before the game paid off, where we decided to go with two forwards. When we play against different teams, sometimes we go with different formations, but for today, we thought that this was going to be the best thing that we can do, to put two forwards, Jason and Steven, in front. The tactics paid off.

(having players out, with playoff position on the line, was this a must-win game or a chance to prove yourself?)

Well, it was a game at home. We stepped on the field just to win the game. I don't think that we had our backs to the wall, because we are in second place, only a point from first place. I didn't feel that having 13 games left, I don't think that we felt that. We stepped on the field just like another game, to go and win it and to fight for three points and be aggressive. Every game we approach so far, and probably into the future. That's how we are going to play.

(approaching the league record for consecutive games unbeaten at home - is that something you talk about?) 

No. I have to say, I'm not a statistics kind of coach. We step on the field to win the game, whether that's 20 or 18 or 19 games. We try to win the game, we try to win the championship. But we're not thinking about the record we're about to break. But this is something that, if you finish the season, we are going to continue to do that. That's going to be something nice to read about. Its something we are going to be proud of.

(the Trillium Cup coming next week with Toronto)

Obviously Toronto, they tied today so they're going to have one point less than we have, and its going to be a very important game for us. We can separate ourselves from them if we win at home. But I watched their game today, and they're a very good team, and it seems they haven't lost anybody to the National Team. They're playing well and they're getting results. Its going to be a very, very difficult game for us and we're going to try to do our best to win it. 

(Steven Lenhart)

He did everything that we asked him to do. I can tell you that he's going to play better; that wasn't his best game this season. He still has to work on his fitness a little bit, he can be quicker. I think he's going to be making better decisions. Obviously he was a handful today, he scored a goal and had an asssist, and that was enough for this game. But as I said before, he's going to play much better.

(how valuable it is to get minutes in a game like this to prove themselves) 

If the team is playing well it is very difficult to get on the field. If Alejandro and Schelotto are playing and starting and we're getting results, for those guys it is very difficult to step on the field. You can win the starting spot if someone gets injured, and that's what happened this time. Alejandro is injured, and Guillermo is injured, and that was an opportunity for these guys to step up and show what they can do. Knowing that, for the next game, I know that these guys can obviously, both of them at the same time, they can step on the field and be very successful and make this club successful. But that's something that, going into the next games, we have to think about; they're good weapons to have whether it is later in the game or sometimes they are going to start and have them in on the beginning of the game.

(people getting healthier for the next game)

It's going to be a game decision. We're going to treat these guys this week, and we're going to see on Thursday, Friday, who is going to be available for the game. I can't tell you right now.

Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis 

It was a difficult, difficult night for us.

(on losing players to the Gold Cup and suspensions)

Yeah, it caused some real difficulties for us because we don't have the numbers in midfield. We lost three players to the Gold Cup, and all three of them play the same position. Our depth there has been tested for sure, and I've ended up putting a couple of guys playing a lot of minutes in there who don't typically play in the inside of midfield, but again, I think it doesn't come down to that for me, it comes down to some other things.

(...)

Not necessarily, not necessarily,  I think that the majority of our play for whatever reason came down the left side, and we've got Clint over there on that side, and he's good with the ball, so there was some good decisions to be made, and again the right amount of chances being created.

(his perspective on the goals)

yeah, unfortunate - the first one, Jamison Olave had a chance to clear it and mishit it, and it drops down right to one of their forwards, and that's obviously very unfortunate, but I think in the end Jamison can make a better play on it.

On the second one, I don't know. I'd better watch it before I comment because for me, when your goalkeeper stands up with a bloody nose, you're questioning why its not a foul.

(on the play of Pablo Campos)

Yeah, I thought he made some really good touches, and some not so good. I know its very difficult to play in your very first game,  there's so much emotions and its hard to keep those in check and have a good performance, so - some good, some bad.

(on the crowd atmosphere here and its role in giving the Crew a home field advantage)

I think that they've done a fantastic job here in Columbus. The fans have done a fantastic job of now coming out and sounding like a soccer crowd. I think first of all sheer numbers is good, but then the passion that they show here, I think obviously lifts their team a bit.

(on Andy Williams' status with the team)

I think we've been very clear with Andy that the most important thing right now in his life is to take care of his wife and be with his family, and soccer comes a very, very distant second. We will never impose anything on them, we're trying to be very respectful and not request him back at any particular time. Its literally just day by day. We're never quite sure if Andy's going to be around. 

Jason Garey scored two goals tonight to lift the Columbus Crew over visiting Real Salt Lake by a 3-1 scoreline. The victory goes some way toward avenging the Crew's 1-4 loss earlier this season, their worst of the campaign so far. With the win, the Crew temporarily climb into a tie with DC United for first place in the Eastern Conference.