Half Time: Columbus Crew-New York Red Bulls
Columbus Crew 1 New York Red Bulls 0
The goal came just as I was about to write at the 30th minute mark that Columbus had failed to use the flanks - one of their strengths - that playmaker Guillermo Barros Schelotto had barely touched the ball and the Crew had rarely threatened the New York goal.
Schelotto sent a long ball up the right wing, Alejandro Moreno beat Red Bull defender Diego Jimenez and slotted it home at the far post.
Until then, the Red Bulls had the better of the play and more attacking opportunities, with Dane Richards in particular causing consternation in the Crew defense with his runs.
Richards did well just before the goal to find Juan Pablo Angel, who could have taken more time before snapping off a shot.
Still, it was New York that finished the initial 45 minutes without a shot on target; the Crew found the goal mouth, if not the net, four times.
About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
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