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Moreno helps Crew edge Dynamo

Apr 27, 2008 - 3:14 AM COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- The Columbus Crew had many reasons to celebrate on Saturday.

Alejandro Moreno scored the lone goal to help the Crew continue their impressive start with Saturday's 1-0 victory over the defending champion Houston Dynamo.

The win helped Columbus coach Sigi Schmid record his 100th MLS coaching victory. He became the second coach in league history to accomplish the feat, joining Bob Bradley with 124.

"It just means that I have been around for a while," Schmid said. "But really what it means is that I have had the privilege of coaching some good players. Players who have helped me achieve that. Obviously some guys have been out there for more of the wins, I am proud of that fact - but I am more proud of the fact that it shows that I have had some good players."

"It's important because, Sigi will tell you we have a good relationship," Moreno said. "We have a lot of respect for what we do. To be able to help in his 100th win ... it is something special for me and something special for him - and I certainly wish him all the best."

Columbus (4-1-0) jumped ahead of New England and Kansas City for first place in the Eastern Conference with 11 points. The Crew are off to their best start in 10 seasons, starting 4-1-0 in the 1998 season - a run that did not include any shootout wins.

"It's good to be 4-1 and we are happy to be undefeated at home," Schmid said. "We are playing well and gaining more and more confidence. I know that this group appreciates this more after what they went through last year, and they want to keep playing well and keep that confidence level up. That will lead to what we hope are many more victories for us."

The Crew opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Moreno cleaned up a rebound in front of the net after Chad Marshall's header was blocked by Houston's Patrick Ianni. The play was set up on a corner kick from Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

"It was a good ball by Guillermo," Moreno said of his fourth goal of the season. "Chad got a head on it in the box, it bounced off the defender and it was just there for me to put in."

Columbus goalkeeper William Hesmer stopped six shots on goal for his eighth career shutout and second of the season.

Hesmer's biggest stop came during the 89th minute when he made a stellar two-handed diving save on Wade Barrett's 22-yard blast to maintain Columbus' 1-0 lead.

"I had a clear angle, there was not a lot of traffic in front of me," Hesmer said. "I saw it on the way and got a good push on it. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to hold onto it, but I had my legs under me - and I was able to hold it."

Houston (0-2-3) remained winless on the season after winning back-to-back titles.

"You don't expect to be 0-2-3," Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said. "We are disappointed right now but I can't say it's because we aren't playing good soccer. It's just sometimes you get the breaks, and sometimes you do not. And we are getting punished for mistakes.

"We have to stick together and I know this group and we will bounce back. The pressure to win is within and the expectation is to win. Right now, things are not going the way we want."

A moment of silence was observed prior to the contest for John H. McConnell, who passed away on Friday after fighting a long illness. He was an initial minority investor for the Crew.