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Schelotto carries Crew past Revolution

Sep 7, 2008 - 3:01 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Guillermo Barros Schelotto had a goal and two assists to propel the Columbus Crew to their fourth consecutive victory, a 4-0 triumph over the New England Revolution on Saturday in a battle of the top teams in the MLS.

Jason Garey scored twice and Andy Iro added his first career goal for Columbus (13-6-4), which improved to 8-2-2 at home and avenged a 1-0 loss to the Revolution on May 24.

Goalkeeper Will Hesmer was required to make one save en route to recording his seventh shutout of the season.

After the match, Columbus coach Sigi Schmid praised Schelotto for another quality outing.

"Guillermo is playing very well for us right now," Schmid said. "Everytime we get a free kick, the team believes we have a chance to score. Also as a team, we do a better job of getting him the ball in better positions and that allows him to use his skill and play balls through. You are not a part of as many things he has been a part of without the ability to raise your game - and tonight was just another example of that."

"In my moment, it is the team's moment too," Schelotto said. "I think today I scored a goal but it is more important (that the team won). The team winning the game is more important than what I do."

Conversely, New England (11-7-5) continues to struggle. The Revolution went 1-2-2 in August and was eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday with an embarrassing 4-0 defeat against Joe Public FC.

"Every team has a tough time at some point in the season and we are getting it now," New England coach Steve Nicol said. "This is when we have to keep confidence in our team, our staff and myself. The older guys will help the younger guys with that."

With the Crew enjoying the better of play in the first half - including a decisive 16-2 advantage in shots, Schelotto finally broke through in the 40th minute.

After Robbie Rogers' centering feed was deflected back to the top of the box, the 35-year-old Argentine alertly slipped the ball past goalkeeper Matt Reis and just inside the left post for his sixth goal of the season.

Just before intermission, Columbus doubled its advantage after Schelotto's free kick from 35 yards out was headed into the back of the net by Iro.

"I saw the cross coming in," Iro said. "The service was great and I happen to know Guillermo well enough to know I could see it was going to go over the top. I just backed up and was able to hit it straight on. Again, a good service and it was good to be on the end of it."

Schelotto added his MLS-leading 18th assist in the 67th minute when he led Garey with a feed. Garey, who entered the match moments earlier, settled the ball and slipped a left-footed shot past Reis to give the Crew a three-goal bulge.

Garey added his second tally of the game - and third of the season - in the 90th minute to cap the scoring.

"Guillermo (Schelotto) and Pat Noonan played amazing balls," Garey said of his goals. "Coach put me in there to try and score a few more at the end of the game. I thought I did a pretty good job but those guys with the passes sent me in one-on-one with the goalie and it's my job to finish when I am put in that situation."