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Wednesday Kickoff: 3 reds, 0 goals and a CCL draw between Columbus and RSL

  CLB_Primary_COL RSL_Primary_COL

While nobody will mistake Tuesday night's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal first leg between the Columbus Crew and Real Salt Lake as an instant classic, there were plenty of talking points to come out of the 0-0 draw at Crew Stadium.

Referee Jair Marrufo issued three red cards, with RSL's Tony Beltran (two yellows) and Nat Borchers and Columbus' Emilio Renteria all being sent off and becoming ineligible for the return leg March 1 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Columbus had more opportunities in the attacking third, with Renteria and Andres Mendoza linking up together to create chances, all of which were either off target or saved by Nick Rimando. RSL, meanwhile, didn't challenge third-string goalkeeper Ray Burse once, but did well to keep the tie even despite being down a man for the final 37 minutes of the game.

Highlights from the match are after the jump:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjsbDema9nE]

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What did you think of the match? Do you think all the cards were deserved? Were you impressed with the Crew's attack? Dissapointed with RSL's? Do you see RSL or Columbus winning the second leg and advancing?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. The double red card incident was not caught on TV. However, Borchers is a veteran who usually is not phased much by stuff but he was really angry post game. He claimed that Renteria threw a vicious elbow and he retaliated by tripping him. He was demanding a 5-game ban for Renteria. Don’t know if any action will happen or can without video review. The sideline ref clearly saw it and there may be suspensions coming.

    http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700112426/Real-Salt-Lake-Crew-tie-0-0-in-CONCACAF-first-leg.html

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  2. reputations being what they are – if this story was told without mentioning the referee’s name – I could have guessed it was Marrufo. The biggest problem in MLS is the quality, or lack therof, of the referee pool. It’s more like a bird bath than a pool.

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  3. I don’t know that MLS can expect the Concacaf (and world) calendar to change for it. And I don’t give a crap what MLS “emphasizes.” Neither should anyone else. If it was up to MLS, we’d all be hanging out at meaningless SuperLiga games, loving the 6th v. 8th seeded teams playing for the league “championship,” and kissing David Beckham’s backside.

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  4. When did MLS start the “Winter Classic”!

    I’m sure the frozen pitch did not help the quality of play. I’ve never played on frozen ground, but it’s got to be tough. Hopefully the weather on the return leg will be a little better…

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  5. It’s a cliche’ worth repeating, but a meaningful game for an MLS team does not work in February. Right now the CCL schedule favors the Mexican and CA teams. Until there is some balanced scheduling that gives MLS teams a chance to play in better form, the CCL will mostly be an after thought to American soccer fans. And if MLS and NA soccer isn’t putting much emphasis on it, then it’s hard to take the results of the CCL seriously.

    That said, if a team like RSL wins it this year then CCL apathy could start turning around.

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  6. Yep, I had an awesome time, too, despite not being in the Nordecke. It was fun and interesting to see all our new guys. Plus, I got to move up a few rows from my actually designated seats (to the 1st row)…

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  7. I’ve thought about this, too.

    1st half, August-November

    Winter break, December-February

    2nd half, March-June

    I can’t see MLS playing in the northern states/provinces any later than November 30 and any earlier than March 1.

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  8. I saw most of the second half and thought Columbus played like they didn’t want to win. (GBS is sorely missed.) RSL did a great job preserving the scoreless draw after Beltran was sent off. I missed the Renteria-Borchers dust up, but it sounds like yellow cards would have been more appropriate.

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  9. agreed, it was pretty poor play last night. but what exactly did you expect, mid-season form? every team in preseason form is out of sync. you can get everything down perfect, from defensive positioning to off the ball movement, but the final ball takes timing and precision that only comes to fruition with real game time, which until last night, neither team has had. practice matches can’t replicate real game speed, but in time, they will round into form. next game will certainly be a little better, as both teams have played a meaningful game and will have more practice under their belts, as well as some glaring mistakes they know they need to fix

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  10. retaliation i believe. to be honest though, all the cards were crap last night. the second yellow on beltran was a little harsh, and to send two players off for a little scuffle is just inexcusable. the referee was trying too hard to put his mark on the game and the play suffered as a result. both sides showed rustiness and lacked the final ball, but too often play was stopped for minimal contact on set pieces and such. a good referee is one you barely notice, unfortunately, this was not the case last night, as he is the only talking point. terrible performance from him

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  11. Looked like Borchers had a bloody nose, so he must’ve caught something to the face. And it was pretty obvious that he gave Renteria a shove. I wish there had been a replay to see the whole incident.

    Props to AR1 or the 4th for catching the incident as it was pretty clear that Marrufo was unable to see the incident.

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  12. seems to me that more than being in cahoots with european leagues, if we’re truly interested in making this concacaf competition more realistic we should be looking at getting coordinated with the mexican and CA leagues, with a first and second half bookending a winter break. the fact that our boys are in preseason and will be facing in form mexican sides is a joke.

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  13. I took the trash out during that 2 minute span, but I heard that Renteria threw and elbow and Borchers and made contact, and Borchers responded by tripping him.

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  14. It didn’t appear that the ref even noticed any infractions but he was still able to hand out cards. I guess his assistants did a good job communicating. I did enjoy the game and was pleasently surprised that the Crew did not get crushed.

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  15. Despite the cold and the less than stellar match, it was great to be back in the stands in the Nordecke. Your pity is unnecessary.

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  16. Certainly. Don’t forget about Dilly. Gaven isn’t quite a hundred percent, too, and Ekpo needs to grow into his new role a bit. Last night wasn’t bad considering 5 or 6 players had their first competitive start or first competitive minutes with the Crew including 3 or 4 rookies who got their professional debuts.
    Crew’s chances going back to Rio Tinto goalless are not great, but it will be interesting to see this time at more full strength when O’Rourke, Marshall, Hesmer, and Duka are healthy.

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  17. I’m surprised Ives even bothered putting highlights up. From what I saw of the game last night, there wasn’t much to highlight. I certainly feel bad for the fans that actually sat out in the cold watching that

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  18. Yup. That to me was the ‘surprise’ of the game. The 2 Forwards are going to cause issues; add to that Ekpo in the middle and Gavin and Rogers on the ends this team will do better than expected as long as they stay healthy.

    My feet were cold just looking at the game, can’t imagine playing in 15 degrees (or negative 15 as Gooch had to do last week….or was that negative 15 Celsius…)

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  19. I was actually impressed with Columbus. They held the ball well, and the defense did not look to bad, but the one thing I am worried about is we really did not have anyone with creativity except Ekpo. We need a Attacking Middy to get the ball into the forwards more effectively. I think as the season goes on Columbus will be a team to be reckoned with.

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  20. The ref didn’t kill that game, the long lay-off did. It was ugly soccer. Poor and static passing, and little off-the-ball movement. Pretty painful to watch after the Champions Leagus stuff earlier in the day.

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  21. Stadium looked empty… I guess it’s still hard to get a larger crowd during the weekday.

    Sloppy from both teams but that’s to be expected with the season just starting. Makes you thankful both teams weren’t playing against a warmed up Mexican team!

    RSL has to take it now with home field advantage.

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  22. I hate it when the refs dismantle a game like Marrufo did yesterday. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one looking forward to the game after the long offseason and the red cards just killed it.

    Considering the conditions I thought the players were coping well. Maybe next week will be better.

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