West Ham United defeat Columbus, 3-1, at Crew Stadium
By Craig Merz / MLSnet.com Staff
An own goal by Columbus Crew defender Brad Evans added to West Ham United's
lead in a 3-1 victory. (Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- West Ham United might be in the early stages of their
preseason training, but they were in good enough form to give a Columbus
Crew team comprised mostly of reserves a 3-1 defeat Sunday afternoon at Crew
Stadium.
Dean Ashton and Kyel Reid scored for the Hammers and Crew defender Brad
Evans scored an own goal that put the visitors ahead for good in the 26th
minute after Crew teammate Jason Garey had tied the match at 1-1 in the 20th
minute with a ripping header.
The Hammers used the match as a tune-up for facing the MLS All-Stars in
Toronto on Thursday.
While West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley was concerned about the
weather -- it was 90 degrees at kickoff -- his side engaged the Crew in an
entertaining match, aided by liberal substitutions that saw both teams use
the bench eight times.
West Ham trained through the match after arriving in Columbus late Friday.
The Hammers had two workouts Saturday and another light practice the morning
of the match.
Still, the Hammers presented a formidable lineup with the likes of Ashton,
Scott Parker, Craig Bellamy, Mark Noble, Julien Faubert and goalkeeper
Robert Green although several players from the full side are out with
injuries.
U.S. defender Jonathan Spector (hip) joined the team Saturday but is not
ready for training and Luis Boa Morte, who played for Fulham when the
London-based club played the MLS All-Stars in Columbus in 2005, sat the
match with a leg injury but should be fit for Thursday.
Spector said all of the players in the starting lineup vs. the Crew are in
contention for the first XI.
Meanwhile, the Crew rested every regular from its 3-3 tie with Kansas City
on Thursday and it showed in the disjointed effort and execution against the
more experienced Hammers.
Crew coach Sigi Schmid brought on first-teamers Chad Marshall, Alejandro
Moreno, Andy Iro, Brian Carroll and Stefani Miglioranzi once the match
passed the hour mark, but the game was out of reach after the poor start.
The Hammers scored first when Ashton was dead-on with an 18-yard strike to
the lower-left corner past Andy Gruenebaum in the 6th minute after taking a
pass from Faubert.
The Crew responded in the 20th when Cory Elenio worked down the right side
and serviced Garey for a header from 12 yards.
The tie was broken as Noble pressured Brad Evans and the midfielder struck
out his leg for an errant clearance.
Bellamy was the catalyst for the third goal in the 53rd minute when his
square ball was perfectly placed for Reid's strike from 10 yards.
West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green, the subject of contract squabbling,
made two saves in 76 minutes while reserve Andy Gruenebaum had one stop for
Columbus. West Ham outshot the Crew 13-12 and had a 7-6 advantage in corner
kicks. Befitting the exhibition, there were only 14 fouls, eight to the
Crew.
Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
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