Real Salt Lake 1 - 2 Crew
Final
  for this game

Crew hopes to snap five-match skid against Real

Jun 7, 2011 - 9:35 PM Columbus, OH (Sports Network) - Columbus took one point from Red Bull Arena on Saturday, but a last-minute equalizer against Red Bull New York still left the Crew on a five-match winless streak.

Without a win since April 30 - and that was against struggling expansion squad Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Columbus (3-3-6) will try to end the streak Wednesday at Crew Stadium against Real Salt Lake (6-2-2).

The Crew escaped New York with a 1-1 tie, as rookie Rich Balchan scored on his first shot in Major League Soccer two minutes into stoppage time.

"I don't know what happened," Balchan, a defender, said on the Crew's website. "I hit the ball and it went in."

Although Columbus managed its first point on the road since April 23, it still must find its home form when Real Salt Lake visits this week.

Columbus tied both of its home matches during the five-game skid and will have its undefeated mark at Crew Stadium tested against Real. The Utah club sits in fourth in the Western Conference but has played fewer games than the remainder of the division.

The Crew will be without midfielder Robbie Rogers, who is with the U.S. squad, but RSL is missing Alvaro Sabario, Arturo Alvarez and Will Johnson, and goalie Nick Rimando, the No. 3 for the U.S., could be called up to the U.S. squad at any time.

Columbus could not have asked for a better time to face RSL, the 2011 CONCACAF Champions League runner-up. In addition to the international absences, Javier Morales remains sidelined with a serious ankle injury.

But, Jean Alexandre - who was named MLS player of the week Monday, and Fabian Espindola both scored last week as Real downed Vancouver 2-0, and the defense remains the backbone this season with just four goals allowed in 10 matches.

Center backs Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave, teamed with Rimando - who posted his sixth shutout and the team's seventh last week - make Real tough to solve in the back.

In MLS's 16-year history, the four goals allowed after 10 games is the second lowest ever. With four more matches left this month, coach Jason Kreis and RSL will want to leave Columbus will three more points.

Real remains on the road Saturday, when it visits the Philadelphia Union. The Crew get one more day's rest, and remain at home Sunday to host the struggling Chicago Fire.






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