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Rogers' second-half surge sends Crew past Earthquakes

May 11, 2008 - 5:58 AM SAN JOSE, California (Ticker) -- Not even the Columbus Crew's recent woes against the San Jose Earthquakes could keep them from continuing their best start in franchise history.

Robbie Rogers scored two second-half goals Saturday, leading the Crew to a 3-2 win over the Earthquakes.

Columbus (5-1-0) won its fifth straight game - matching the best run it has enjoyed since August 16 to September 9, 1998 - by overcoming its recent struggles against San Jose, which had won five of the last eight meetings between the teams and five of the previous six home matchups.

"I think at times they (the Earthquakes) were pretty good, but we found ways to get through their defenders," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said. "We exploited Robbie Rogers' speed; we created chances in the first half and were able to take advantage of the chances on the second half. It is a well-deserved victory for us."

After Ramiro Corrales broke the scoreless tie in the 42nd minute for the Earthquakes (1-4-1), Rogers netted the equalizer in the 73rd minute. Rogers took a perfectly placed lead pass from Emmanuel Ekpo and streaked down the left side of the field, easily blasting a left-footed kick past Earthquakes goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

"We talked during halftime on getting Robbie Rogers back into the game because the first 20 minutes we were very effective attacking on the left-hand side," Schmid said. "I thought the substitution with Emmanuel Ekpo on the right side was good. We felt he could get some space to play in and he was able to make a difference for us."

Rogers added his team-leading fifth tally of the campaign in the 81st minute to give the Crew their first lead of the game at 2-1.

Brad Evans netted the final of Columbus' three unanswered goals and doubled the lead just two minutes later, charging the right side of the penalty box and unleashing a powerful right-footed blast past Cannon for his first tally of the season.

However, San Jose refused to go quietly, matching its season total in goals when Ned Grabavoy sent a corner kick from the left side of the field all the way to the right side of the box where Ryan Johnson outjumped a Crew defender and headed the ball past San Jose goalkeeper William Hesmer.

The comeback over the final 17 minutes also marked the first time this season that an MLS team which scored first went on to lose.

"We did not (close them down) really well in the second half in critical parts of the game," San Jose coach Frank Yallop said. "When someone is running free, we have to have a clear runner step up to the ball. It was two good runs and goals from Rogers, but I wish we could have caught up to him. It is just disappointing."

Hesmer and Cannon each recorded five saves.