Crew cut

Prior to yesterday's match, Sean Donahue and I made our predictions, as is our custom. I believe he said Kenny Mansally would score more goals than Taylor Twellman, but wouldn't be surprised if it ended 0-0. I stuck with my previously published prediction of 2-2, and offered that either Mansally or Sainey Nyassi would score.

FAIL.

This is why neither of us has won the Massachusetts state lottery. Or Powerball, for that matter.

The Crew mustered the only goal needed for them to pull away from the Revs in the Eastern Conference. How did they do it without Guillermo Barras Schellotto?

In a word: preparation. They never panicked, kept things simple, and let the game come to them. Cliches, each and every one, I know. But it was remarkable how well Columbus simply managed the game. They knew that they weren't going to receive the world-class service off the run of play normally afforded to them by Schellotto, so what did they do? They tried to capitalize on set pieces - which is exactly what happened when a completely unmarked Chad Marshall came out of nowhere and headed home a Robbie Rogers corner kick during the 35th minute.

The Revs had the opportunity to strike back. But they had trouble finding the flanks. For whatever reason, they could not get it wide to for the life of them. I don't know what it was. The slick conditions, one would assume, should have helped them. It didn't. At all. Taylor Twellman, might as well have been standing with the Riders in the Fort because after the 20th minute he did little to nothing other than act as a really, really good decoy.

It's also apparent that Mansally and Twellman are struggling to find chemistry up top. Same could be said of winger Sainey Nyassi, who still has not found himself on the same page as Twellman far too often this season.

What can the Revs do from here on out?

That's the six million dollar question - one they better figure out before the playoffs start. Or else it'll be another postseason, another MLS Cup disappointment.

Ralston, Twellman, Reis, and Shalrie ain't getting any younger. I'm just sayin.'

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