• Recap
• Bleachers

Flores, Marsch send Chivas USA past struggling Crew

Jun 1, 2008 - 6:10 AM CARSON, California (Ticker) -- If the Columbus Crew thought a bruised-and-battered Chivas USA team was going to help them end their scoring funk, they were wrong.

Jorge Flores and Jesse Marsch registered first-half goals Saturday, leading Chivas USA to a 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew.

Flores and Marsch, who also accounted for their team's only goals in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Colorado, repeated the feat seven days later to send Chivas USA (4-4-2) to its third consecutive win.

"I thought from the start that we deserved to win," Chivas coach Preki said. "We where sharp and executed the way I want (us) to play. We dominated, it was just a matter of time before we broke them down."

Chivas accomplished the feat despite having six players listed as out and two more as questionable before the game.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Brad Guzan needed just two saves to turn in his 22nd career shutout, shutting out Columbus (6-3-1) for the third straight game and extending the Crew's scoreless streak to a MLS-high 278 minutes.

The scoring drought is quite a turn for Columbus, scored 14 goals in winning six of its first seven games, including a four-goal outburst against Chivas USA on April 12 to start a five-game winning streak.

In the 20th minute, Chivas USA forward Justin Braun drove in and, from just outside the right side of the penalty area, put a centering pass into the middle of the box, only to be deflected by teammate Atiba Harris.

The ball rolled nicely to the left side where Flores lined up a blast which beat Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer.

"I think we started the game well," Flores said. "We did to them what we we're trying to do - take control away from them and dominate. The best part is the result and knowing the part I played in it. I'm hoping for continued success in front of the goal and am glad for the opportunity to play to show what I can do."

Just one minute later, Braun drove down the right side of the field again, centering another pass where Marsch put it away with a high kick to the right that surprised Hesmer.

"(The coaches have) talked about me playing a little more (forward) and that's given me a opportunity to get on the end of some of these balls," Marsch said. "I would have to say that I feel the rhythm of the team is better and that helps me get into the flow of the game.

"I think this is something we didn't have in the beginning of the year - and now I think we can feel it on the team, and it's showing up on the field."

In the 22nd minute, Columbus was dealt a severe blow when it was ruled that Crew defender Danny O'Rourke committed a studs-up slide tackle on Harris, resulting in an immediate red card and ejection.

As a result, the Crew played with 10 men for the remainder of the contest.

"We played a man down from the time we got off the bus," Crew coach Sigi Schmid said. "I'm (wasn't) happy with the first 20 minutes (and) then the red card. I think playing a man down we had some chances and Guzan had to come up big to keep us out of the game. I thought we did OK a man down, but its always going to be tough."

Hesmer recorded two saves for Columbus.