The Columbus Crew defeated the New England Revolution 1-0 in MLS Reserve League play at Crew Stadium on Sunday morning. A late goal by Bernardo Anor proved to be the game-winner as the Black & Gold extended its lead atop the Reserve League East Division.
The Crew controlled most of the first half attempting to create chances in the final third of the field. In the 9th minute Anor sent a cross into the box but Revolution defender John Lozano cleared into a corner. In the 15th,Crew forward Jairo Arrieta took a shot from the top of the 18-yard box only to see the ball sail high above the crossbar.
The Revolution had a chance in the 23rd when midfielder Michael Roach sent a dangerous free kick into the box only to see the ball cleared by the Crew defense.
The Revs would have another chance late in the first half when forward Blake Brettschneider dispossessed Carlos Mendes and sent the ball to Roach. The Revolution midfielder sent it back across the goal mouth but Brettschneider was whistled offside and the teams went to the locker rooms scoreless.
The second half began with similar intensity and the Crew controlling most of the run of play. In the 52nd minute Crew second-half substitute Aaron Horton ran the ball down the line and crossed into the box looking for Ethan Finlay but New England defender Darrius Barnes was quick to deflect the ball for a corner kick.
In the 64th Milovan Mirosevic took advantage of melee in the box to take a shot only to see the ball hit the near post. The Revolution responded five minutes later with Fernando Cardenas but his shot went barely wide of the goal.
The Crew continued to attack the Revolution’s goal in the last 15 minutes of play and it finally paid off in the 81st minute when Anor received a cross from Ben Speas and tapped the ball in beating Revolution ‘keeper Bobby Shuttleworth for the 1-0 lead.
The Revolution attempted one more play on the Crew’s goal in the 88th minute but Black & Gold defender Josh Williams easily cleared the ball into the side fixing the result at 1-0 for the home team.
The Crew (4-1-0, 12 pts.) will look to extend its lead atop the MLS Reserve League East Division next Sunday, June 17 as it travels to Foxborough, Mass. to face New England (1-2-1, 3 pts.), in a rematch of Sunday’s game.
The Crew and the Revolution will also square off the day before, Saturday, June 16, at Gillette Stadium as the MLS regular season resumes for both teams.
New England Revolution 0, Columbus Crew 1
MLS Reserve League
Sunday, June 10, 2012 – Crew Stadium
Scoring Summary:
CLB – Bernardo Anor (Ben Speas) 81
Misconduct Summary:
NER – Pat Boucher (Caution) 56
CLB – Bernardo Anor (Caution) 90
Lineups:
Columbus Crew – Matt Lampson, Josh Williams, Carlos Mendes (Korey Veeder, 79), Eric Gehrig, Nemanja Vukovic (Aubrey Perry, 66), Cole Grossman, Kevan George (Eddie Gaven, 84), Milovan Mirosevic (Ben Speas, 73), Bernardo Anor, Ethan Finlay, Jairo Arrieta* (Aaron Horton, 46)
Substitutes not used: Carter Richardson^, Sebastian Miranda,
-Denotes Crew Guest Player
^-Denotes Crew Academy Player
New England Revolution – Bobby Shuttleworth, John Lozano, Darrius Barnes, Tyler Polak, Michael Roach, Ryan Kinne, Pat Boucher, Sainey Nyassi (Fernando Cardenas, 34), Jeremiah White (Bjorn Runstrom,46), Diego Fagundez, Blake Brettschneider
Substitutes not used: Tyler Zon^, C.J. Burnham^, Florian Lechner
-Denotes Revolution Guest Player
^-Denotes Revolution Academy Player
Referee: Andrew Bigelow
Assistants: Joe Kuzma, John Safar
Fourth Official: Michael Farmer
