The Crew continues, on from last season, record breaking accomplishments to start the 2009 season. Unfortunately the 0 wins, 2 ties, and 2 loses sets a worst start record for a defending MLS Champion, lowering the bar from the 3 ties and 1 lose starting records set by the 2003 LA Galaxy and matched by the 2008 Houston Dynamo’s.

After a late own - goal allowed Toronto a draw, ten days ago, the Crew left town hoping to carry the positives from that home opening match. The Thursday match in Sandy, Utah was a cold welcoming to the Crew from Real Salt Lake.

A 5 – 2 – 1 history against Salt Lake held promise that maybe the Crew could notch their first win of the season. A second minute tally by Robbie Findley served notice that Real Salt Lake did not want the Crew spoiling their home opener in Rio Tinto Stadium.

A 22nd minute equalizer from Jason Garey gave Crew supporters a flicker of hope the team was returning to their form of last year. However, a botched clearance from Will Hesmer in the 29th minute allowed Findley, who was already a step in front of all crew defenders, to step around the goal keeper and calmly slot the second of his three, to be, hat trick goals.

Findley finished his scoring efforts and got his third goal in the 62nd minute. The third of his goals coming in the second half, and only the first he required any teammate assistance in scoring.

Coach Warzycha acted in the 63rd minute substituting Steven Lenhart in for Gino Padula, and Alejandro Moreno for Robbie Rogers in the hopes of stemming the tide.

However, The Crew struggled to mount any real offensive threats against Real Salt Lake. They ended with only one other shot on goal taken by Steven Lenhart.

Kyle Beckerman’s header on a Clint Mathis serve in the box drove the last nail in the Crew’s coffin. It is appropriate that the dreadlock sporting captain of Real Salt Lake deliver the killing blow, because they smoked The Crew.

To add injury to insult, Jason Garey, who carried most of the team’s offensive, scoring the Crews only goal and taking 4 of the 8 shots taken, was taken down hard in the closing minutes and sustained an ankle injury.

Having no more substitutions available, The Crew played a man down for the added extra time. Garey was carried off the pitch by four teammates at the end of play. It was more in line with the evacuation of a fallen comrade from the battle field then a hero being celebrated by his teammates.

Drummed out of Utah with a 4 – 1 loss, the Crew headed west to the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
A poor 2 – 4 - 2 history against Chivas USA’s franchise, three days to mend minds and bodies, and the fact they have not beaten Chivas on their home field since 2005 were not good omens for a Crew win heading into this match.

The Crew did show a much better performance against Chivas than they did against Salt Lake. The Crew had the better of possession in the early going.

A cross from Emmanual Ekpo, after his drive up the left flank, was headed soundly on goal by Eddie Gaven in the 17th minute. However it was easily saved by Zack Thornton who read the play and was in excellent position.

Andy Iro got the start as a center defender due to Jed Zayner and Frankie Hejduk being nicked up from Thursdays MLS match in Zayner’s case and Wednesday’s world cup qualifier match that Hejduk played in Nashville.

Iro went from zero, to hero, to bye - bye. Playing left center back he got caught ball watching as Gerson Mayen brought the ball all the way up the right flank, then turned in toward goal. Watching Mayen’s progress toward the penalty box instead of Atiba Harris run into Iro’s area, allowed Mayen to slot the ball easily to Harris for an easy flick on past Will Hesmer.

Chivas USA took the lead in the 25th minute. Gaven tried to answer the goal with a cross he headed on goal that was sent in by Rogers. The Crew was able to draw even in the 37th minute when Guillermo Barros Schelotto sent a right corner kick to the far side of the box, in Ekpo’s vicinity.

Ekpo ran it down just out side the box on the left flank, and got the ball under control then sent it into the box close to Alejandro Moreno who was not able to get all of his foot on it, but was able to redirect it in the area of Andy Iro.

Iro was able to get his left boot on it Poking it in for a goal before Thornton could respond to the chaos. The goal made up for Iro’s earlier lapse in defense.

The Crew seized the momentum from the tying goal and almost grabbed the lead when a set piece from Schelotto was sent into the box to about the 8 yard mark. Chad Marshall redirected it with a one time blast that Zack Thornton was able to deflect out to his right, but not catch due to the heat on the ball.

The Crew kept on the pressure but they were not able to get a go ahead goal and went into the break knotted at one each.

Returning from the break Chivas established the better run of play. They got a free kick when Danny O’Rourke legs became tangled with Atiba Harris as they both ran to track down a diagonal pass to the right flank.

The free kick in was headed to the ground and almost beat Hesmer who just got his left hand on it and pushed it into the left post. However as bounces go this was not friendly to the Crew and caromed back toward the middle of the box. Marshall almost got a foot on it but was out challenged from a leaping Eduardo Lillington.

The ball was driven into the turf in front of the goal and then bounced just over the defending leg of mid fielder Brian Carroll, who had taken a defensive position on the goal line in support of Hesmer. Just the way they drew it up in practice. Though not pretty and very improbable it did give Chivas back the lead.

Four minutes later Andy Iro was shown the red card and the door to the locker room, when he caught Lillington with an open stud leaving the Crew to chase the game with one less man.

Choosing to go down swinging the Crew played with one less defender and continued trying to get the equalized.

The Crew nearly did get the tying goal in the 66th minute. Gaven charged down the right flank then directed a cross into the six-yard box. Schelotto freed himself from his mark and got onto the end of it redirecting it toward the right corner of the box.

Last year you could have bet all your AIG stocks this was going straight to the far right corner netting. However in summing up the Crews fortunes with one shot, it missed just inches outside the goal frame.

The Crew have been challenged to date to come out quick and try to establish the winning form of last year. They have been asked to clear quite a few hurdles, including playing without all their starters and three games in nine days.

Admittedly they have caught their foot on a couple hurdles, but unlike a 100 yard qualifier at the Olympics, they are not get ready to be counted out of the competition.

Seeing their old coach match last season’s early success with a new team (nine points in three matches for Seattle) might not help in handling their expectations and early disappointments. But realize Seattle is in the same position Columbus was in last year. They have no expectations on them to win, and a relatively favorable schedule.

The Crew has 26 more regular season matches to stage a comeback. They host the Colorado Rapid’s this Saturday evening 4/11/09, with a 7:30 PM start. A win and three points will go a long way in righting the ship, and the fourteen days between MLS matches should help in the over all availability and health of the players.