Wednesday, June 8, 2011

The Crew Win! Columbus Crew 2, Real Salt Lake 1, 6/8/11

Nothing better than Buck-a-Brat night at Crew Stadium! Except for Buck-a-Brat night and a Crew victory!

The Crew beat Real Salt Lake tonight, 2-1. After giving up another early goal (The 4th time in past six games The Crew has allowed a goal in first 10 minutes.), The Crew and Real Salt Lake played 67 minutes of scoreless soccer until Crew halftime sub Justin Meram drew a foul in the Real Salt Lake penalty area. Andres Mendoza converted the PK (more on that later) to tie the match in the 76th minute.

Seven minutes later, Crew defender Josh Gardner ripped a long distance shot that was deflected by a Real Salt Lake defender into the net to give The Crew a 2-1 victory. The Crew have temporarily moved into 3rd place in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference.

Jeff Cunningham and Andres Mendoza
I was sitting in the North stands at Crew Stadium when the PK for The Crew was called at the South goal. I assumed that Jeff Cunningham (starting for the first time this season) would take the PK, and he actually walked to the spot. But Andres Mendoza waived him off. It looked like several Crew players, including Captain Chad Marshall, approached Mendoza about Cunningham taking the kick. But Mendoza stood firm, and converted it.

And who was the first person to reach Mendoza and congratulate him after scoring the goal? Jeff Cunningham!

It will be interesting to get the post match story on what actually happened on the PK.

So The Crew win on Buck-a-Brat night, sending home the 9,650 fans who attended the match both happy and well-fed.

And in case you were wondering, I only ate two brats.
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