MLS Major League Soccer

McBride, Crew Oust Defending Champs

Published on September 29, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


COLUMBUS, OH - U.S. World Cup forward Brian McBride scored the game-winning goal with nine minutes remaining in regulation as the No. 6 seeded Columbus Crew defeated the No. 3 seeded San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 on Saturday night at Crew Stadium, eliminating the defending MLS Cup champions in two games in their MLS Cup Quarterfinal series. With their second 2-1 victory in consecutive games, the Crew won the "first-to-five-point" series 6 points to 0 (as in regular season play, each victory counts for three points). The Crew advance to face the winner of the quarterfinal clash between the New England Revolution and Chicago Fire.

Columbus avenges the Earthquakes for the first-round, two-game elimination suffered last year at the hands of San Jose, also by 6 points to 0. Since winning MLS Cup 2001 on October 21, 2001 at Crew Stadim, the Earthquakes have now lost three straight matches in Columbus, including two in the regular season. They have also dropped their eighth consecutive road match including the last seven away matches in regular season play.

It was a run by forward Edson Buddle into the Earthquakes penalty area that led to McBride's goal in the 81st minute. Buddle outmuscled Quakes defender Jeff Agoos for the ball in the box and got a foot on it as goalkeeper Joe Cannon came out to challenge. The ball deflected off Cannon, who collided into Buddle and Agoos, and bounced to McBride who easily knocked home the winner from eight yards out. For the Crew captain, it was his first postseason goal since October 18, 1998 against D.C. United and the eighth of his playoff career.

The Earthquakes sent in forward Devin Barclay immediately after McBride's goal, looking for fresh legs in attack but it was the Crew who created several opportunities in the closing minutes. In the 85th minute Agoos deflected a Jeff Cunningham shot over the bar while three minutes later Cannon made a miraculous save on a point-blank McBride shot from 10 yards out.

Four minutes of stoppage time were added on and in a last-gasp effort, Quakes defender Eddie Robinson headed a corner kick high of the Crew goal in the 94th minute. The miss ended the Quakes' hopes of becoming the first team since D.C. United in 1997 to repeat as MLS Cup champions.

The first half featured entertaining, free-flowing action from both teams. Although the Crew put together several offensives, it was the Quakes who enjoyed the clearest looks at goal. In the span of 14 minutes between the 22nd minute and 36th minute, San Jose came close on four different scoring opportunities. But as in Game One at Spartan Stadium on Wednesday, the team lacked finishing.

In the 22nd minute Landon Donovan beat defender Mike Clark down the right flank and walked into the right side of the penalty area but his centering pass crossed the entire Columbus goalmouth as teammates Ian Russell and Ariel Graziani failed to connect. Three minutes later it was defender Jimmy Conrad who pushed forward, beating two defenders and running free into the box. However, his point-blank shot from 10 yards out sailed high of the crossbar.

The Earthquakes scoring chances continued in the 29th minute as forward Dwayne DeRosario, from the left side of the box, sent a diagonal shot toward the far right post. Fellow forward Graziani was crashing that right post and came within inches of deflecting the ball just feet away from the goal line as the ball trickled just wide of the woodwork. In the 36th minute DeRosario was again the provider as his cross from the right flank found Manny Lagos, who sent a volley from the penalty spot wide right.

Although San Jose didn't pay for its missed chances in the 41st minute when a low, first-time shot by Buddle was saved by Cannon, the Crew punished them five minutes into the second half. Jeff Cunningham fed a wide-open Freddy Garcia at the top of the box on the left side. With Cannon charging him, Garcia sent a delightful chip over the goalkeeper and inside the right post, giving the Crew a 1-0 lead. It was Garcia's second goal of the series and Cunningham's third assist of the 2002 postseason.

There was a frenzied reaction by the Quakes and it resulted in a goal for the defending champions in the 58th minute. Donovan was unmarked as he advanced into the left side of the box and sent a centering pass in front of goal. Graziani collected the service on his chest eight yards from goal and watched the ball bounce through three Crew defenders into back of the net. The score was tied 1-1 and with opportunities on both ends of the field, it was the Crew who would finish on top when McBride found the back of the net in 81st minute.

The Earthquakes were missing three stalwarts from the 2001 MLS Cup winning team in their starting lineup: defender Troy Dayak (groin), midfielder Ronnie Ekelund (flu-like symptoms) and midfielder Richard Mulrooney (broken ankle). Ekelund replaced Russell in the second half.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 29, 2002


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