Schelotto: "We are the Best Team"

• George Pennington
• Mon Sep 14 2009, 2:06am GMT

While the middle of the pack has been tight in both conferences, the race for the Supporters Shield has been just as close. The Columbus Crew moved past the Houston Dynamo tonight and claimed three points with a 2-1 victory.

Pat Onstad guesses wrong as Columbus go up 2-1. Photo by George Pennington, © 2009 Fair Challenge

After a slow start to both offenses, team captain Frankie Hejduk scored his first MLS goal of the season in the 34th minute to give the Crew a 1-0 lead at the half. The Houston offense, led by American international Brian Ching, had a few good chances to equalize but failed to convert.

In the 80th minute, the Dynamo finally evened the score when Cam Weaver applied some finesse to a deft pass from Ching at the top of the box.

The dynamic of the game changed when Adam Moffat and Ricardo Clark both recieved red cards in minute 82. Moffat, though still eligible to play in the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League game against Cruz Azul, will be forced to sit out the next match at Chicago on the 20th.

The Crew secured three points when they were awarded a penalty kick in the last minute of regulation. Eddie Gaven sailed the ball past Dynamo keeper Pat Onstad in stoppage time to wrap up the match.

This victory puts the Crew in the lead for the Supporters Shield with 42 points. Houston, still with 40, falls to second place. The Crew extended their record home unbeaten streak to 21 and has won six out of their last seven games. It all adds up to one thing: in the words of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, "We are the best team."

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