Morning Afterthoughts: Game 3 - Chivas USA

It was a night that was filled with ejections (on the field and in the stands), power outages, and goals galore. Quite simply, it was a fantastic time in the Nordecke. In the end, it left non-Crew-yet-MLS fans sounding like Buster Bluth talking to Lucille Austero: "Did you always have all those...points?"

And as I am wont to do, I am rewatching the game and keeping a running diary of my thoughts. Here we go...

Pregame

- Welcome to Crew Stadium! I get to watch the Chivas USA home video feed, which features Christian Miles and former Crew and Chivas player Brian Dunseth on the call. And since they really had nothing of interest to say, I'll point out that Dunny appeared to have a half-windsor knot in his tie, while Miles is rocking the four-in-hand.

- Oh, this is tremendous. Apparently, I paid $19.95 to not only get to watch the opposing team's game-feed, but I also get to watch all the commercials from the boradcast. Seriously, MLS, since we had to wait until 5pm on Sunday afternoon to get this game posted online, couldn't someone have edited out the commercials? Is that so much to ask?

First Half

:35 - I almost forgot until the announcers said it. The head official for last night was Ricardo Salazaar, who has been brutal to the Crew in the past. I thought he caled a fair game last night though. Of course, he did send two Chivas players to the showers early, so maybe that influenced my opinion...

3:04 - Alejandro Moreno gets free, but Guzan just beats him to the ball. Also, apparently Christian Miles is one of those white guy announcers that tries to sound ethnic when pronouncing foreign names. So, instead of saying it like most non-Spanish speakers ("owl-lay-HON-dro more-AY-no"), Miles insists on calling him "ahl-eh-HAAAN-dro moth-HREE-NO". No, seriously, I'm enjoying these Chivas announcers so far.

4:10 - There was a graphic onscreen that said this: "Windchill - 37 degrees". Christian Miles then interpreted that graphic by saying "the windchill is negative 37 degrees, and it certainly feels that way here in the booth." Attention Max Breto, it is now official: Christian Miles will supplant you as the most annoying announcer in MLS before the end of the season. Better watch your ass, Max. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZ!!!!!

5:12 - ADAM Moffat. Not Andy. Thanks again, Christian.

6:09 - Guillermo forces Brad Guzan to make his first save of the game. Couldn't tell if that was a cross that turned into a shot, but it almost fooled Guzan either way.

6:42 - And as Will Hesmer picks up a harmless long ball, we see the first smoke flare that landed on the field. I know the Front Office has their liability issues, and they don't want to see the flares, but it looks great on TV.

7:35 - I can clearly hear the Nordecke doing the "COL-UM-BUS CREW AH OOH" chant. Very nice.

11:08 - And Robbie Rogers has his first shot of the night, off a poor pass from Chivas' Atiba Harris. Have I mentioned that he's leading the league in shots? That's something that was missing last year. Shoot first mentality? I like it.

11:39 - WHOAAAA! The first big mistake by the Crew defense almost gives Chivas a 1-0 lead. Gino Padula heads the ball back to Will Hesmer, but Atiba Harris continues his run, past the sleeping Chad Marshall, and Harris nearly puts it in. Fortunately, Hesmer makes a great save to knock it out wide.

Let's hope we can chalk that goof up to the new back line getting to know each other. But really, it was a poorly played ball by Gino and equally poor marking by Chad. Let's hope they get that figured out.

12:09 - Francisco Mendoza gets a yellow for chipping at Guillermo's ankles in the Crew's defensive third. Brian Dunseth thinks this is a smart play. I'm sure there will be nothing that happens in the 80-minute range to make him change his mind.

15:10 - Gino Padula commits a foul just near the sideline, which brings out a bath of streamers for Sacha Kljestan. By the way, I bought about 25 of those, and my brother bought around 40. They're 57 cents at Walmart, and we've got two weeks until Houston. Stock up, because it looks fantastic on TV.

15:45 - Jim Curtain looks like an ugly Alexi Lalas, minus the gotee. And that's saying something.

16:25 - Did we ever hear an official reason as to what caused the lights to go out over the Nordecke? I'm guessing that Scott DeBolt was trying to send a message about the smoke bombs. Either that, or the Crew was trying to save some money they didn't make at the gate yesterday.

17:40 - Just noticed that on the back of the Chivas jersey collars, they have "chivas.com" printed on it. I don't know, maybe I'm seeing things, because that's the website for Chivas Regal Whiskey.

23:56 - Padula makes a great play in the midfield, and pokes it ahead to Schelotto, who hits Rogers down the line, who crosses to Moreno, who draws the foul, in the box for the PK. Great little bit of teamwork there by the Crew. Even a Eurosnob would have to admit that was nice.

25:07 - GOOOOOAAAAAAL! Guillermo absolutely buries the PK, and Guzan has no shot. I bet Guille's foot has the Adidas logo blistered onto it this morning from the way he ripped that shot. 1-0 Crew.

28:35 - Again, over the announcer, the sound of the Nordecke is loud and clear.

32:28 - Sacha Kljestan ties it up at 1 apiece. It's sad, because this goal happened right as you could again hear the Nordecke screaming "Ole ole ole" over the announcers. Also, Christian Miles called it a "wonder goal." Is that like the Wonderlic test that NFL players have to take before the draft? It was a nice goal, why not just say, "nice goal."

Also, in my opinion, that last post was a "wonder post."

35:57 - GOOOOOAAAAAAL!! Guille takes his time in the box, and finds Alejandro Moreno doing what he does best: running to the goal. Guzan is fooled by the wily Argentine, and the Crew are sitting on a 2-1 lead.

39:36 - And for the first time tonight, Miles actually refers to our Scottish midfielder as "Adam" Moffat, and not Andy, which he had done 3 times previous. Moffat ripped a shot from the top of the box, which seems to be his range. He's not afraid to shoot either.

42:24 - Now this is impressive: I can actually hear the "dick" part of the "CHIVAS SUCKS (dick)" chant. Either we were really loud, or the microphones last night were cranked a little higher. I think we were just louder.

43:15 - Great job by Gino Padula to disposses Atiba Harris, and then to find Robbie in space on his first touch once the ball was free. I like the awareness Gino brings to the table. And his hair makes him look like a metal head, which ain't bad.

And the first hald comes to a close.

Second Half

47:05 - Tremndous offensive movement by the Crew. Guille lays it off for Robbie Rogers, who makes his run deep down the left flank. He hits a beautiful cross that Eddie Gaven heads to Guille, who has circled back to the top of the box. Guille lays out to make the header, and it's saved by Guzan. Very nice.

47:34 - Again, the supporters are clearly heard doing the Columbus Crew chant.

53:23 - Robbie Rogers cost Brian Carrol another assist, as he one times it 5 yards in front of Guzan, but hammers it right into the Comex logo on the Chivas keeper's jersey. It's amazing that he could have easily had 3-4 goals last night.

62:33 - Andy Moffat...err..Adam Moffat with another wicked shot that almost knuckled past Brad Guzan. Moffat's shot traveled nearly 30 yards and never came more than a foot off the ground. Wow. It took an instinctual save by Guzan to keep that one out.


66:32 - OK, now I've clearly heard the "OOOOOH, YOU SUCK ASSHOLE" chant when Guzan takes his goal kick. It's only going to get louder boys and girls. Bring your screaming voices on the 26th.

70:31 - Wow, didn't notice this from the stands. Robbie Rogers tracks down an errant pass, and back heels it in just before it heads out of bounds. He then runs face first into the bench cover apparatus they put over where the players sit on the sidelines. That shows some heart and toughness, as he jogs right back out on the field.

70:43 - ...and that's why it pays to keep running. Schelotto sends a perfect pass that is badly judged by the Chivas right back, Eric Ebert. Robbie carries it into the box, and buries it past Guzan. GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!!! 3-1 Crew.

71:57 - But just like that Jesse Marsch gets one back for the Goats. Tough to say who fell asleep back there, but it looks like it might have been Chad Marshall? Danny O'Rourke was clearly marking a man, though he was pretty far forward. Just a bad, bad defensive breakdown.

73:41 - Eddie Gaven takes a nice rip from 20 yards out, but it is again right into the midsection of Brad Guzan. Sigi and Bobby are working on getting the boys to aim at parts of the goal OTHER than where the keeper is standing, right?

74:40 - Gino Padula gets a yellow in his first game for time-wasting while waiting for the free kick. Interesting the way Padula and Schelotto are taking the free kicks. Padula dummied a few earlier in the game as well.

75:56 - Again, you can clearly hear the Columbus Crew chant from the Nordecke. If we could get all the chants to be that loud, we'd be in good shape.

76:59 - A nice pass from Padula to Robbie Rogers, who flicks it on to Guillermo in the box, but the Chivas defender gets there just a second before Guille can rock Guzan's world. Also, Christian Miles called the flick "cheeky." Padula did a good job of getting back quickly there as well to stop the counter. Again, I like him.

77:56 - Sacha Kljestan takes the ball across the top of the 18, turns, and finds Paulo Nagamura sitting at the top of the 18. He rips one past Will Hesmer, and we're tied at 3 apiece.

I can't understand how Hesmer didn't get to that ball, but what was more frustrating was how lax the Crew defenders were when it came to closing Nagamura down. That's was just lazy play by the Crew. Both of the Chivas goals in the 2nd half were a result of lazy, 3-1 lead defending.

81:20 - Danny O'Rourke hits Robbie Rogers from 60 yards away, Rogers brings it to his feet and slams it right at Brad Guzan...WHO LETS IT SLIP THROUGH HIS HANDS!!! GOOOOOAAAAAAL!!!! 4-3 Crew!

I know some will say this goals was soft, but when you realize how many times Robbie put shots on frame, he's been terribly unlucky so far this season. But as they say, it all evens out. Robbie nails what ended up being the game winner.

82:26 - Francisco Mendoza takes out his frustrations on Eddie Gaven's ankle. That draws his second yellow, and the auto red. Goodbye! Don't let the door hit ya' where the Good Lord split ya'!

83:28 - Not one minute later (ok, barely a mimute later), Sacha Kljestan takes down Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Guille gives an Oscar worthy performance, and referee Ricard Salazaar decides he's seen enough chippy play from the Rojas y Blancos. Kljestan gets the straight red, and Maykel Gallindo and Paulo Nagamura look as though they're going to rip Salazaar's head off.

That's right boys, keep arguing when you're only down one with 9 minutes to go. Thaaaaat's it. Keep the clock rolling as you argue away valuable minutes. Thanks very much!

84:25 - This was a fantastic moment, as Guille (clearly not injured) gets up, and Maykel Gallindo comes up to him as if to say, "See! I knew it! You're not really hurt!!!" Guille just looks at him, and with his Ricky Ricardo voice, probably said something like "It's all part of the show..." By the way, I like imagining Guille with a Ricky Ricardo voice. It makes his arguments even more entertaining.

85:14 - Even Dunny thinks the red card was justified. Eat that Chivas fans (all 4 of you)!

By the way, another thing that "Grinds My Gears": There should be a rule that if you show up to a Chivas USA game while wearing the jersey with the "Bimbo" logo on it, you immediately get deported. Seriously, do these people even know it's not the real Chivas team? Seeing as how they can't fill the stands at the HDC, I highly doubt all that support I saw at CCS was from L.A. area fans who follow the USA side.

86:32 - The broadcast team makes the excellent point that now the already depleted Chivas team will be without Kljestan and Mendoza next week, along with Ante Razov, Raphael Wicky, and even Alecko Eskandarian, who is having the final stage of his 3 part sex-change operation.

Next week, in case you're wondering, F.C. Dallas will be benefitting from the Columbus-drawn bookings. I'd say the score will be 3-0.

Stoppage time - Jim Curtain gets his pants pulled down by Schelotto, as Curtain tries to clear the ball in his defensive half, Guille steals it and makes a run into the box. Cue the Nelson laugh from the Simpsons.


GAME! Crew win 4-3!!!!

Final thoughts: Padula seems to have brought some life to the right side (finally), though defensively, the team as a whole gets a C. Have to do better. The offense looked good against a Chivas team that was without their best defender (Claudio Suarez) and their best forward (Razov). We'll see what this means for the Crew, as they have a scant 4 days to prepare for DC United.

Still, a great win for the Crew! Now, we move on to Scum week. Make sure you try to watch with fans somewhere, either ar Ruby Tuesday on Summit or at Tommy Keegans in the Brewery District downtown. The game is, of course, on Thursday night in prime time on ESPN 2.

Let's Go Crew!!!