American Soccer News
Major League Soccer’s newly-crowned MVP was front and center at the league’s showpiece game at Home Depot Center Sunday afternoon, as the Columbus Crew beat the New York Red Bulls to win MLS Cup 2008. The man in question, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, set up all three Columbus goals to win his team its first MLS Cup.
With the victory, Columbus becomes the first Supporters’ Shield winner to capture the elusive ‘double’ since the LA Galaxy in 2002. It is the fifth time in 13 years that the Supporters’ Shield champions have won MLS Cup after DC United (1996, 1997), Kansas City (2000) and the Galaxy six years ago.
Chad Marshall’s winning goal came off a Columbus corner kick just 87 seconds after John Wolyniec had equalized for New York. Previously, Columbus forward Alejandro Moreno opened the scoring in the 31st minute.
Schelotto nearly added to his tally in the 76th minute, shooting the ball off the crossbar. Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero was beaten on the shot, which almost definitely would have decided the game in Columbus’ favor had it gone in.
Instead, the deciding goal came five minutes later. Frankie Hejduk headed it over Cepero to give Columbus a 3-1 lead that stood until the final whistle.
New York dominated the game for much of the first half, particularly the first 30 minutes. But John Wolyniec (13th minute), Dane Richards (22′), Kevin Goldthwaite (18′) and Juan Pablo Angel (29′) were unable to find the net. Moreno’s breakaway goal appeared to take the wind out of the Red Bulls’ sails.
Read the Red Bulls reaction here.
mls cup match facts
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew
November 23, 2008 — Home Depot Center
Scoring Summary:
Columbus – Alejandro Moreno (Guillermo Barros Schelotto), 31st minute
RBNY – John Wolyniec 2 (Dane Richards), 51st minute
Columbus – Chad Marshall (Schelotto), 53rd minute.
Columbus – Frankie Hejduk (Schelotto, Eddie Gaven), 82nd minute.
Lineups:
Columbus Crew — William Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Danny O’Rourke, Gino Padula, Eddie Gaven (Steven Lenhart, 93′+), Brian Carroll, Brad Evans, Robbie Rogers, Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Andy Iro, 91′+), Alejandro Moreno.
Substitutes Not Used: Andy Gruenenaum, Emmanuel Ekpo, Ezra Hendrickson, Stefani Miglioranzi, Pat Noonan.
New York Red Bulls — Danny Cepero, Carlos Mendes, Chris Leitch, Kevin Goldthwaite, Diego Jimenez, Dane Richards, Luke Sassano (Jorge Rojas, 78′), Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Dave van den Bergh, John Wolyniec (Macoumba Kanji, 82′), Juan Pablo Angel.
Substitutes Not Used: Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Andrew Boyens, Gabriel Cichero, Mike Magee, Juan Pietravallo.
Statistical Summary:
RBNY / Columbus
Total Shots 8 11
Shots on Goal 1 6
Fouls 11 13
Offsides 1 4
Corner Kicks 4 6
Saves 3 0
Misconduct Summary:
RBNY — Chris Leitch (caution; reckless tackle) 4th minute
Columbus – Gino Padula (caution, reckless tackle) 68th minute
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Referee’s Assistants: Greg Barkey, Kermit Quisenberry
4th official: Mark Geiger
Attendance: 27,000
Weather: Cloudy and 68 degrees
Time of Game: 1:52
