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Moreno helps Crew extend unbeaten streak to eight games

Oct 5, 2008 - 3:35 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Even though they have already secured a spot in the postseason, the Columbus Crew are not looking to let up just yet.

Alejandro Moreno scored the only goal of the contest late in the first half as Columbus extended its unbeaten streak to eight games with a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday.

William Hesmer had three saves as the Crew notched their second straight 1-0 triumph and third consecutive win since tying Toronto FC, 1-1, on the road September 13.

"It's a good feeling to be where we are at," said Columbus coach Sigi Schmid, who was suspended from the match after picking up a red card at New England last Saturday. "I don't know the outcome of all of the other games but I think if things fall in place we will have home field for the entire playoffs which is huge.

"All we can do is keep playing and keep winning and that will all take care of itself."

The Eastern Conference leader with 53 points (16-6-5) and the only team to have gained a playoff spot coming in Saturday, Columbus played even with Los Angeles for most of the opening half until Moreno collected his ninth goal of the season in the 43rd minute.

Moreno knocked in a header just inside the far post over defender Chris Klein after Danny O'Rourke served the ball into the box from the right side.

"The ball got dropped off to him (O'Rourke)," Moreno said. "He got his head up and I saw he was going to swing the ball in and, as the ball came in, I tried to get in front of the defender Klein and I was able to put it in the back of the net."

That score spoiled star David Beckham's first appearance at Columbus, as he was injured last year when the Galaxy came to town. His visit got even worse when he picked up a yellow card in the 32nd minute due to a reckless tackle, forcing him to be suspended for the next game due to a collection of penalties.

"It's disappointing, but I am not going to go into a game thinking about an accumulation of cards," Beckham said. "If you do, it puts you off your game and you are not going to go for tackles. It was just a mistimed challenge that the referee was giving out cards quite freely, it's disappointing."

It was the third loss in the last four games for Los Angeles, which fell into last place in the Western Conference with 29 points (7-12-8).

The Galaxy now sit five points out for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with three games remaining. Los Angeles has missed the postseason each the last two seasons.

"We have to win our next game," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "There is still a lot of math to be done, but it doesn't mean anything because we are not winning games. We need to win games and certainly that is going to be our goal. We have to win games regardless of what everyone else does."