Crew Rd 8: Win, Scoreboard on Fire

While DC matched the Crew in terms of play, Columbus proved they have the ability to finish much better. DC was handed a sixth lost in their first eight games and the Crew pick up their third win of the season.

1ST HALF

Even after conceding three early and easy goals last week to Philadelphia DC continued to make the same open mistakes which allowed the Crew to put the same amount up on them in the 1st half.

Jairo Arrieta finally made his way back into the starting line up and showed exactly what made him so dangerous last year. Arrieta assisted on the first, was integral part of the 2nd (where Higuain linked up with J. Williams from a corner) and drew the penalty in the box on the third.

It wasn't a perfect half for the Crew and DC looked fine, even had a goal called back via unlucky offside call.

2ND HALF
DC carried on with normal attacking, open play but they left their finishing somewhere else (in 2012?). Chance upon chance for United but all lacked any semblance of quality.

When DC didn't get chances it was because Danny O'Rourke broke up the attack. Most are saying this is O'Rourke's best game of the year and it could be. Having Tony Tchani (a more comfortable midfielder then his former CDM partner Viana) beside him probably helped.

Interesting to note though that DC was able to rip off 13 shots in the 2nd half alone (to a Crew 2) but only one of those really troubled GK Andy Gruenebaum. As time ticked away in the 2nd half it became clear that DC just doesn't have it.

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FINAL THOUGHTS
• Officiating in this one was poor. DC was on the wrong side of a number of these calls but the Crew got some questionable one's as well.

• Viana dropped back to his natural position at left back to start the game but pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury early on. Tyson Wahl came on for him and played his normal game, which is "okay".

• Great to see Tchani out there in the middle. He's got a lot of detractors but his preseason was excellent. His play has tightened up in the past half year or so. He is improving.

• Easy to say that; had Chris Pontius (injured) played this may have been different. Considering DC did play ok, this DC team probably needed that change. And more change on the defensive side especially.

• Jairo showed exactly why he needs to be out there. The Crew looked like the team last year that dismissed a lot of these bottom half of the table teams.

• DC's goalkeeper Bill Hamid is not playing well. He actually didn't have a single save. The three Columbus had were goals (one penalty from Higuain).

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SO THE SCOREBOARD CAUGHT FIRE
Not long before the match was scheduled to start, the Crew scoreboard caught on fire. Here is a picture Sam Fahmi took for Massive Report (lots more photos there, as well as info on the blaze from Patrick Guldan).

This event also made Deadspin, HERE.