Soccer's All New Crew

"A miserly defense breeds success!" is how EA Sports FIFA 07 would describe the Columbus Crew after last weekend's 0-0 draw with New York. Last year, each team in the league could taste victory when a match with the Crew was on hand, but this year, the Crew ought to dominate their own third of the field.

After two years worths of poor results, this Crew team seems to reflect the kind of Columbus team that went 15 straight games undefeated in 2004. This does not mean that they won every game, as the Crew haven't been a major goal producing team since the reign of Brian McBride, but the Crew of 2004 were dominate defensively and did not concede many goals in that 15 game stretch, earning five cleansheets and six one goal games by the opposition.

Last weekend, the Columbus Crew hosted a 0-0 draw against Red Bull New York and its attack led by Claudio Reyna. The Crew's defense has found skill and confidence in veteran leaders like Frankie Hejduk, Ezra Hendrickson, and Marcos Gonazalez. Each of these players has worn the jersey of their respective national teams, and each can count on their replacements late in the match.

The Crew bench features three fairly well known defensive players in: Duncan Oughton who is a member of the New Zealand National Team, a promising U.S. Youth National Team defender in Tim Ward, and Rusty Pierce who has been in the league since 2000. With its defense re-intact, the team must now find a way to score goals.

Frankie Hejduk, was upbeat after last weekends draw, saying "Both teams came out pumped up and ready to play and they really pressured us [in] the first half, but once we settled down a bit and I got my head right, I thought the second half was pretty solid for the whole team. I thought we played really well and we dominated in the second half and I think that we should have won the game."

Hejduk's confidence in a win likely stems from the chances created by Eddie Gaven and Joseph Ngwenya, who were repeatedly denied by the New York's Dutch goalkeeper, Ronald Waterreus.

However if recent rumors prove true, then the Crew could see a huge boost to their attack. The AP recently reported that the Crew offered Boca Juniors' forward, Barros Schelotto, an estimated $2 Million to come play in the MLS. If he takes the offer, Schelotto will become the fourth Designated Player to join the MLS, and will join a team with a proven defense and an offense which is discovering its potential. Placing Schelotto on a field with the likes of Eddie Gaven and Andy Herron would prove to be a goal scoring formula, which is what the Crew will need to earn wins this year.

Frankie Hejduk's optimism seems well founded as the Crew look to turn their ship around. Columbus will travel to Utah this weekend to face former Crew stand-out, Jeff Cunningham, and Real Salt Lake, as they continue to hunt for their first win of the young season. AP