Crew no longer bogged down by injuries
Hejduk, Noonan, Rogers all show returns to form
Sure, the Crew -- winless in league play (0-2-5) -- produced a 3-1 victory against the host Buckeyes in the fundraiser, but that should be expected of the defending MLS Cup champions.
What brought a smile to McCullers was how it was done and who was on the field. He saw forward Pat Noonan look sharp in his recovery from a back injury and score a goal -- unlike the missed opportunity Noonan had last Saturday at Toronto FC that could have broken a 1-1 tie.
McCullers witnessed the return of reserve midfielder Cory Elenio after missing more than a month with an injury and starting left back Gino Padula on the field again after serving a red-card suspension for the Toronto match.
There, on the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium field, McCullers saw midfielder Robbie Rogers fit from a hamstring strain and looking like the Best XI player from last season.
Most importantly, captain and U.S. defender Frankie Hejduk was once again flying down the right flank and pronounced himself fit for duty Saturday at home against Kansas City after playing the final 30 minutes Tuesday.
"You want to get in there and help out wherever you can. If it's off the bench, great. If it's 90, great," he said.
Hejduk played the first match of the season but went away with the U.S. squad and experienced tightness in his left hamstring on April 1 vs. Trinidad and Tobago. He has missed the past six Crew games.
"He's the heart and soul of the team," defender Danny O'Rourke said. "He really doesn't have to say much. Sometimes he does. He riles us up with what he says but the way he brings it to every game and to be able to have a person of his class, being national team player and being a class soccer player and person, we want him on the field whenever we can."
The match against Ohio State, a 2008 NCAA tournament qualifier, was just what Hejduk needed.
"It was good to get back out there and get a sweat on and good to get a game before a (MLS) game," he said. "You can practice all you want but the best thing is to get games and get in game shape. This was a perfect game to get the opportunity to test it out. It's all fine. I was a little hesitant the first time out and I didn't do some of the cuts I normally do.
"This is the type of game those things are perfect for -- quick movements, laying one-twos and getting game fitness. I felt fine. It's just getting the confidence back and not think about the hamstring at all."
He was not the only one to benefit from the exhibition. Noonan made his first appearance of the season at Toronto and is still looking to regain his sharpness.
"It was a good run around for a lot of us and good for the Ohio State guys and the crowd and for a good cause," he said.
Noonan scored the third goal against Ohio State off a nice layoff in the box by Alejandro Moreno in the 75th minute. It was a quality finish and showed Noonan had put the Toronto match behind him after being denied one-on-one with keeper Stefan Frei in the 78th minute.
"It's over. I should have finished it, loved to have it back but if I'm worrying about that now it will lead into next week. It's unfortunate but you move on," said Noonan.
He's excited to see some of his teammates get back on the field as well. Reserve forward Jason Garey (right ankle sprain) and starting goalkeeper William Hesmer (left knee sprain) are nearing returns and only defender Andy Iro (left quad strain) and midfielder Adam Moffat (left hamstring strain) are definitely ruled out this weekend although midfielder Alex Grendi suffered an apparent bruised right forearm vs. the Buckeyes and his status is unknown.
"I'm back in training a little bit," Hesmer said. "I'm pretty much there. It's just making sure I'm sharp before I step on the field."
The good news for the Crew is they have lost only twice despite the numerous injuries. But the downside is blowing leads in the second half four times and coming away with a tie in each.
"We're putting that part of the season behind us. All those ties," O'Rourke said. "We're not thrilled with the results of our first quarter of the season. We're happy with the way we played most of the time but we have lapses we need to clean up a bit and string some three points together."
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
