MLS: Crew finally win

The Columbus Crew accomplished two feats with their 3-2 victory against the Kansas City Wizards Saturday night.

Most importantly, it gave the defending champs their first win of the season. But of equal importance was the absence of their chronic second half letdown, which resulted in five draws in their first seven games.

"We been waiting for this since the beginning of the season," said coach Robert Warzycha. "These guys just needed a win to take off."

That doesn't mean there was a shortage of tense moments for the Crew (1-2-5) in the final 45 minutes.

Midfielder Robbie Rogers sent in a cross from the left corner that was met by Eddie Gaven near the penalty spot. Gaven slotted home his shot inside the lower left post in the 78th minute. The 3-1 advantage was short-lived for the Crew, and right on cue the lead was cut in half.

In the 79th minute, Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury whipped in a cross from the right flank and found a streaking Josh Wolff, who drove a powerful header past goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum.

"I think everybody was still celebrating, it was incredible how fast it happened," Gruenebaum said.

Despite the Wizards' advances, the Crew did not falter in the waning moments, and the Black and Gold finally grabbed three points.

In the first half, a series of back heels by Gino Padula, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno set up a shot for Rogers from the 6-yard box. Wizards defenders swarmed Rogers and the deflected ball led to Emmanuel Ekpo sliding a shot past goalkeeper Kevin Hartman for a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute.

The Wizards drew even in the 51st minute when second half substitute Claudio Lopez drove an in-swinging free kick from the right flank. The cross turned into a shot when Gruenebaum missed on a punch and the ball bounced its way into the goal.

"I think I had a shocker," Gruenebaum said. "I was going to challenge but I think I need to stay home there."

Frankie Hejduk made his first appearance since the season opener on March 21. He was drawn away from the team by international duty and then plagued by a nagging hamstring injury. But the captain made his presence felt in the 55th minute.

Hejduk's cross from the right side found Schelotto, who slid behind the defense for a diving header goal. Schelotto notched his team-leading fourth goal of the year and the 36-year-old MVP has shown no signs of slowing down.

"Whenever you have a guy like Guillermo on the field, who is a magician on the ball, he's gonna make some special things happen," Hejduk said.

The 14,271 people on hand to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the first soccer-specific stadium in the MLS were left with a reason to celebrate. The win allows the Crew to concentrate on re-asserting themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

"At different points in the season every team goes through grinds, and unfortunately for us it was those first few games," Hejduk said. "Now hopefully this win will get us over that hump and get the monkey off our back."