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Lewis' late goal keeps Galaxy's unbeaten streak going

May 17, 2009 - 10:54 PM CARSON, Calif. (STATS) - Eddie Lewis was in the right place at the right time to extend the Los Angeles Galaxy's unbeaten streak.

Lewis scored his first goal of the season in second-half stoppage time Sunday to help the Galaxy salvage a 1-1 tie with the Columbus Crew.

The Galaxy (1-1-7) extended their unbeaten streak to seven games - their longest stretch without a loss in two years.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored his fifth goal of the season for the Crew (1-2-6), who lengthened their own undefeated run to five games but have yet to win on the road.

Lewis scored after Omar Gonzalez's long throw-in reached the penalty area. The Crew's Gino Padula headed the ball away from the net, but Lewis secured it and fired a low 25-yard line drive that settled inside the right post.

"You set yourself up knowing that if the ball pops out, you want to be in a good spot," Lewis said. "To be honest, it came out so nice for me."

Crew defender Frankie Hejduk offered more effusive praise.

"The goal was an absolute bomb," Hejduk said. "It was a great finish. You can't take a goal like that away from anyone."

The Crew played the end of the match with 10 men after Danny O'Rourke received his second yellow card for tripping Landon Donovan from behind in the 89th minute.

As a result, Lewis had one less defender to worry about.

"Everybody was inside (the penalty area)," Lewis said. "Nobody was really rushing out to close me down. The main thing was that I didn't want to rush. Luckily, I struck (the ball) really clean and it was in the corner enough to stay away from the 'keeper."

Schelotto gave the Crew the lead in the 70th minute, when he stripped the ball from Galaxy defender Tony Sanneh and sent an 18-yard shot inside the left post.

"We have to score more goals," Columbus coach Robert Warzycha said. "We had probably three opportunities that (Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan) Ricketts saved almost on the goal line. If we finish one of those, it would be 2-1."

Despite the Galaxy's unbeaten streak, Lewis believes his teammates must assert themselves on offense.

"We played with a very attack-minded lineup but the game started a little slow, a little conservative," he said. "Sometimes, guys are really scared to get in the attack, even if it unbalances the numbers. We aren't quite adventurous enough."

Crew goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum started his fourth consecutive game in place of William Hesmer, who injured his back during training Wednesday and did not travel with the team.