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Earthquakes-Crew Preview

Oct 1, 2010 - 8:41 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

San Jose (11-8-6) at Columbus (13-7-6), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Columbus Crew have all but clinched a third consecutive postseason berth. By avoiding a loss to a potential playoff opponent, they could wrap that up this weekend.

The Crew will try to earn their spot following Saturday night's home game against the San Jose Earthquakes, who are trying to reach the postseason for the first time since returning to MLS.

To clinch its berth, Columbus needs a win and a Kansas City loss or tie at New York, or a tie and a Wizards defeat. The Crew (13-7-6) lead the Red Bulls by just one point in the Eastern Conference.

Columbus should be healthier as it tries to snap a three-game winless skid in league play. Central defender Chad Marshall and forward Emilio Renteria could return after missing consecutive games.

Midfielder Robbie Rogers could be available for the first time following left knee surgery two months ago, and defender Gino Padula played for the first time since July 14 in Wednesday's 2-1 loss in Guatemala.

The Crew kept eight starters at home for that CONCACAF Champions League match but had most of its players available during a 0-2-1 MLS stretch. Columbus trailed 2-0 early in the second half last week at New England before Steven Lenhart and Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored to force a tie.

"A couple of games didn't go our way, but you can't start doubting," Lenhart told the league's website. "We're freaking players, you know? We're going to keep fighting through little spells like that. That's part of being an athlete."

With 39 points, the Earthquakes are tied for final playoff berth with Seattle and six points ahead of Kansas City. They haven't reached the postseason since their original team left for Houston after the 2005 season

San Jose, which returned to the league as an expansion team in 2008, could help its chances by bouncing back from an uninspiring performance earlier this week.

The Earthquakes (11-8-6) were 5-1-1 in league play before Wednesday night's 3-0 loss at home to Chicago.

"Hopefully it's a wake-up call," goalkeeper Jon Busch told the league's website. "If you don't show up and put 100 percent effort in, things like that happen."

The Crew's two most recent MLS losses came against Western Conference teams, and they're 2-6-3 in MLS play versus those opponents since May 28. Until sweeping last season's series, Columbus had dropped three of four to San Jose, including a 2-0 defeat at home in 2008.

Schelotto scored in the opening minute of the second half to give the Crew a 2-1 win in last season's matchup in Columbus. Eddie Gaven also recorded a goal in that game and scored in the teams' previous meeting June 2 at San Jose.

That matchup ended in a 2-all tie on Chris Wondolowski's goal in the 79th minute.

The Earthquakes' five road wins this season are second most in the league behind Los Angeles' seven, but the franchise is 3-12 in Columbus since the start of the 1996 season.