Morning Afterthoughts: Rocky Win Allows Crew to Climb

Did we see what we just saw? Down to 10 men, the Crew held onto a 1-0 lead after Sigi switched formations for the first time since the Reagan Administration and even added a goal after a 2nd-half sub not named Steven Lenhart finished an amazing run that took advantage of a goal kick. By the way, did we mention the Crew had only won once at Colorado ever, that our two wingers are en route to China, and that Colorado outshot the Crew 23-5?

So, how did the Crew win 2-0? Let me paint you a picture:




The Crew have sometimes this year suffered ties that should have been wins, and occasionally a brave few have questioned the abilities of the fuzzy-headed man between the pipes. But last night, William Techumseh Hesmer absolutely destroyed any thoughts of a ceiling on his career. He made 7 huge saves that would serve any European side well. And he wasn't so much patroling his penalty area as he was destroying anyone who dared wade into the Crew 6-yard box on a set piece. William hasn't completely got his positioning down 100% of the time, but his reactions are second to none.

Meanwhile, the legend of Lenhart continues to grow. His interplay with Miglioranzi, who played an absolutely brilliant ball to the Azusa Kid, was an example of all that is good about soccer. The red card he was given was an example of the exact opposite. The physical manhandling the forwards in MLS are required to take without a foul being called is appalling. While Moreno and Schelotto no doubt were angered about Lenhart being sent off, and perhaps, the obvious manner in which he earned his trip to the showers, no doubt they had to feel some sense of justice after the way they have been beaten and battered without the ref passing air through his whistle. In the same vein, there is little doubt Robbie Rogers was watching, smiling, and nodding.

Lenhart's attitude is something Crew fans can be proud of. He is hot-headed, flashy, has a flair for dramatic, and most of all, will be the last person on the team who will be caught handling excrement. Jimmy Conrad, an overrated vet of MLS who gets the benefit of the doubt from the refs, media, and coaches, ran into Lenhart last week and ended up getting his head palmed like a basketball. He's lucky Lenhart didn't treat his noggin more like a Titleist sitting on the white tee of a par 5. Many have compared Lenhart to a Cabbage Patch Kid, what with his curly blonde hair and youthful look of exuberance. Forget that; if anything, he's as Garbage Pail Kid as they come. Saying Lenhart has a nasty streak is like saying Tommy Lee has a few tattoos. And to think, this time last year, Livid Lenny was going to call it quits after his senior year at APU.

Interesting Lenhart fact: all three goals he has scored have either tied or won the game for the Crew this season. Some of us should have seen this coming, since after all, 9 of 16 goals last season at Azusa Pacific were gamewinners.

(By the way, please ignore this post and this post form earlier in the season where I kind of bagged on us picking Lenhart over Xavier Balc. Kudos to Sigmund the Round for making me look like an idiot. )

Finally, as much as I have love for the curly-haired players aforementioned, I am personally most excited about the abilities currently being displayed by one Jason Garey. He got on the end of a nice goal against Independiente, apparently did the same vs. West Ham, and now has gotten into an MLS game and made the most of it, tallying the nail in Colorado's proverbial coffin Sunday night. And what a goal it was. Coincidentally, both Garey's and Lenhart's goals are up for GOTW nomination. Both deserve it, with Garey's being my personal favorite.

After a perceived slight by not getting the nod over Lenhart as first sub, Jason Garey is a man on a mission to show Sigi injuries are the only reason he's not lived up to his potential. The flashes he showed last night are promising. Nevermind the goal, he abused Colorado's defense for the 2nd half of the game. Facundo Erpen did everything but piledrive Garey on the run that became Garey's first MLS goal of the season; Bouda Condoul had to clothesline him to keep him out of net for a 2nd time. Thank God MLS's fine referees saw no reason to award the deserved penalty to Garey; we wouldn't want him to get satisfied now that he's got a guaranteed start this week against Houston.

The best thing about the whole game? With Rogers and Ekpo gone, the Crew are getting big time step-ups from secondary players in their absence. Last year, and in many years past, it seems like everyone got hot and cold at the same time. Last week, Guille carried the team; this week, William Hesmer put the team on his back and Lenhart and Garey each had a good half. The Crew are getting players to step up in key situations, and that will payoff come playoff time.

Other notes:

- Forgive me as I interrupt the sanctity of the Holiest of Spicoli's, but Frankie Hejduk needs to sit down for a game. Waaaaay to many reckless, two-footed tackles that either missed, were horribly late, or both. He was singularly responsible for a few of the Crapids chances last night. His yellow carded tackle could have easily seen red. Unfortunately, it had the same result as Lenhart's elbow, as both will miss the next match in Houston.

- Eddie Gaven looked very able coming back from injury. He burned the sidelines nearly as well as anything Robbie Rogers has done, covered well on defense, even got a little physical when necessary. Hope for more of the same this week.

- The 3-5-2 worked for Sigi, though he seems to treat Colorado with special gloves because they are so good at crossing into the box. With Frankie gone for the Houston game, what will he do? I think he goes back to 4 in the back, puts Iro in the middle with Chad, and prays to God that Padula is healthy so Danny can play on the right.

- RSL just got done beating TFC 2-1. That means even with their games in hand, of all the Eastern Conference teams behind Columbus, only Chicago is within three points of the Crew (if they win their extra match). Meanwhile, the Crew sit 2 points off the Supporter's Shield, albeit with one more game played than New England. Basically, we're in really good shape going into the Olympics.