By BRYAN ROBISON
Much like they have done so often as of late, the Columbus Crew continued their recent run of finding a late goal. This time around, it was Eddie Gaven, who headed in the equalizing goal in the first minute of stoppage time to preserve a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City, along with preserving Columbus' playoff hopes, as they remain one point behind the Houston Dynamo for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
For Sporting Kansas City, it was a devastating opportunity lost, as they had a chance to all but clinch the top spot in the east. Instead, with the one point, they hold a three point advantage over the Chicago Fire with two matches left. Along with keeping Chicago in the hunt for the top spot, the draw clinches a playoff spot for the Fire, as they are guaranteed no worse than a fifth place finish.
C.J. Sapong opened the scoring for Kansas City early, as he nearly knocked it in twice on the same play. Sapong headed in a Graham Zusi cross, which went off the post and right back to Sapong, who got the goal the second time around.
Unfortunately for Kansas City, they had to watch Roger Espinoza get carted off the field with a leg injury. The specifics on his injury along with his status have yet to be announced. In what looked to be an ankle injury, first reports are that the injury is not serious in terms of his status with his MLS club for the remainder of the season, but it does put a World Cup qualifier call-up for Honduras in doubt.
Kansas City will return to action on October 20th, as they will travel to Red Bull Arena to take on the New York Red Bulls for the third time in less than two months. Columbus will look to gain ground on Houston as they travel to RFK Stadium on the 20th to take on third place DC United, who are five points ahead of Columbus.
Here are the match highlights:
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What are your thoughts on the match? Will Columbus continue their late surge into the playoffs? Will Kansas City hold off Chicago for first place in the Eastern Conference?
Share your thoughts below.
The Crew did well and stayed in the game. SKC didn’t push enough to get that second goal. And Vermes didn’t make any substitutions soon enough. Should have brought on Peterson sooner and moved Zusi to the midfield.
One other thing, though, Eddie Gaven needs to quit flopping. Get some balls and be a man. Stay on your feet and play. Great that he got the goal, but so disappointed in his girlish play.
Way too many bad giveaways by Birchall in this game. The attacking elements are in place now, especially with Duka getting healthy, but without winning the ball in the midfield and keeping possession to get the ball upfield, it doesn’t really matter. The Crew would be very dangerous with a solid #6, don’t think Birchall or O’Rourke are the answer though.