• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Crew-Wizards Preview

Jun 5, 2009 - 5:58 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Columbus (2-2-7) at Kansas City (4-4-4), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Columbus Crew haven't looked much like the team that won the 2008 MLS Cup, getting off to the slowest start of any defending champion.

They also haven't lost in two months, but would prefer to extend their seven-match unbeaten streak with their first road victory Saturday night when they meet the Kansas City Wizards.

Columbus (2-2-7) has 13 points in 11 matches, hardly putting the reigning league champion on pace to match its club record 57-point season in 2008.

Despite the Crew's lack of a dominant start in defending their first MLS title, they've consistently picked up points. Columbus had a six-match unbeaten streak heading to Seattle last Saturday to face Sounders coach Sigi Schmid, who led the Crew to the championship last November.

Alejandro Moreno got Columbus on the board in the 12th minute with his second goal of the season, though that was all the Crew could convert as they settled for a 1-all draw to push their undefeated streak to seven.

"It's been a pretty good month for us," said Moreno, who will miss this match while playing for the Venezuelan national team. "We've gotten draws on the road and won at home. We're just happy to get a point here. Obviously, we've had a tough beginning to the season, but I think what we've done in the month of May is something we're very happy with."

Perhaps a visit to Kansas City will help get Columbus back in the win column. The Wizards (4-4-4) are one of two teams the Crew have beaten this season, as they got one of Guillermo Barros Schelotto's team-high six goals in a 3-2 home victory May 9.

Columbus also is riding a six-match unbeaten streak against Kansas City. The Crew went 2-0-1 versus the Wizards in the 2008 regular season, then knocked them out in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 2-0 win in the second leg after a 1-all draw in the first.

Kansas City settled for its second consecutive 1-all tie last Saturday at Los Angeles after earning a point against Chivas USA the week before.

It looked like the Wizards and Galaxy were on their way to a scoreless draw before Davy Arnaud gave Kansas City a 1-0 lead in the 84th minute. Three minutes later, however, Edson Buddle drew Los Angeles even.

"It's disappointing when you're winning 1-0. With an extra player we want to close out the game," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said. "We had a real quiet locker room. It feels like a loss to us. But what does it tell about our team? I still think that we do have depth but like every team in the league, we have to continue to get better."

Kansas City will get deeper against Columbus when leading scorer Josh Wolff (six goals) returns from his one-game suspension. Wolff scored in the loss to the Crew last month.

Kansas City's Roger Espinoza will play a World Cup qualifier Saturday with Honduras, while Duncan Oughton (New Zealand) and Frankie Hejduk (United States) will join Moreno as international absentees for the Crew.