What an Electrifying Game - Columbus:1 DC:5

Every game I've attended before this, I've taken my camera and shot putting boring shots. This game could have changed all that and what do I do?? Forget the camera in the car. It's as if I was being punished for leaving it in the car. Needless to say no pics this time.

NOTE: This was written from what I remember from the game. Highlights aren't posted yet so the specific touches may be inaccurate but this is what I saw.

What an amazing game!!! Too bad it wasn't on TV. To anyone who missed the game: I'm sorry and I'll try to put everything into perspective. A lot of things happened and needless to say that DC dominated offensively and aside from a couple of mental lapses (one which led to the goal), the defense was solid.

Real quick: Columbus came out and tried to run up and down the sidelines like they did the last game. Only this time DC was ready and shut down the flanks for a majority of the game. Columbus had very good chances but they couldn't take advantage of the few defensive lapses. Ngwenya had a very good goal that capped a string of 5-plus passes for Columbus. That was the most dangerous they looked the entire game and, for the most part, the defense went out and did it's job.

Offense: so I may have underestimated our potency on offense. They went above and beyond everything I could have predicted offensively. Remember the breakdown of shots on goal from last game? Columbus: very few and DC: a whole lot. It was pretty much the same this game only they actually finished. FIVE GOALS...simply amazing. The first goal was going to be a through pass to Alecko who would have dribbled around the goalie for an amazing left footed shot. Unfortunately, Columbus's tenth-string goalkeeper went straight for Alecko's knees which drew a pretty obvious penalty kick and a yellow card. Guess who takes the penalty kicks for DC. Hint: he's been pretty much automatic from the spot for the past two seasons. That's right! Jaime Moreno setup the shot and converted for his 100TH GOAL!!!

The next goal didn't come until early in the second half. Christian Gomez took the corner. It was low, direct and aimed for the near post. Out of nowhere Alecko flew in and deflected the ball towards the goal. At first it looked like a straight goal but thinking about it again, it seemed like it bounced around a little and ended up being a Columbus own goal. But it all started with a perfect service from Christian Gomez for the second straight game. Alecko ran pretty much the same route as the KC game on the goal that was nullified by a phantom foul. He used the screen other DC players produced by just standing still to free himself from his defender and he had a clear header. Funny thing: during the celebration most DC players were pointing to Alecko's head and gesturing as if to say "you shouldn't use your head".

The third goal was almost Jaime Moreno's 101st. He received the ball deep in the Columbus box with his back to the goal. One defender was on his back and two were closing in. He took a couple touches away from goal, turned, and took a hard right footed shot on goal. The keeper did well to deflect the shot but the Crew defenders just stood and watched as Josh Gros performed clean up duty and scored a nice goal. Gros is all hard work and those types of goals are tailor-made for his work ethic. No matter what happens he finds a way to get it done.

At this point I thought DC would sit in a shell and protect their lead. Well they finally realized that the best way to win a game is to maintain pressure throughout the entire game. The fourth goal came via a classic-Eskandarian run. After a scare at the other end. Perkins played the ball to Gomez who then passed the ball straight down the field to Alecko that had to fend off his defender as another was seconds from getting in position. Alecko's strength and speed held off his man and as soon as he saw the left side of the net open, unleashed a rocket that the newbie keeper had no chance of stopping. It was gorgeous.

The last goal just summed up the night. After DC subbed out Gomez for Filomeno, I thought that Novak's plan was to slow down the game. But Filomeno wasn't having any of it. He picked up where Gomez left off. He was on a mission and he looked very sure on the ball. Adu started the play by taking a solid shot on goal that was fisted away by the keeper only to land at the feet of Lucio Filomeno about 3 yards away from goal. After fumbling a little bit, he got the ball into the position he wanted and finally scored that ellusive first goal. His celebration said it all. He took off his shirt and you could almost see him shaking the monkey off his back. The first goal is always the hardest and let's just hope that this is the first of many.

Last Columbus-DC game I said that DC played like the varsity team who takes playing the freshman team for granted and ends up getting embarassed. This time DC played like the varsity team that takes all competition seriously and crushed a weaker freshman Columbus team. DC is point blank the best team in the league; offensively and defensively. They are on a roll now and nothing in the near future looks to stop them.

P.S. It was a good showing from the fans. La Barra Brava was out in full force and as loud as ever. I noticed a new chant though (well new to me). They took the popular USMNT chant of "U S AAAAAA, U S AAAAAAA, U S AA, U S AA, U S AAAAAA" and replaced USA with United. I liked it and it's something everyone can chant. On our side their were four middle eastern? hispanic? men that were banging away at their drums and getting everyone in adjacent sections to clap and dance and chant in unison. They were having a blast and it was actually nice seeing some emotion from the middle sections on our side of the stadium. The atmosphere was exciting and as the goals piled up the entire crowd got more vocal and hungry for even more goals.

I'm sorry to all of those who missed it but hopefully it's a taste of the rest of the season.

Next up: fledgling New England Revolution on Saturday at 7:30. It will be televised.