Warzycha not hesitant to flaunt depth

Schelotto, Moreno, Rogers, Padula used as reserves in key match

By Craig Merz / MLSnet.com Staff

Emilio Renteria (front) made his first start for the Crew on Saturday. (G. Bartram/Getty)

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COLUMBUS -- It wasn't a gamble as far as Columbus Crew coach Robert Warzycha was concerned to rest some of his top players against a Los Angeles team that could have overtaken them for the most points in the league.

Warzycha's moves worked as the Crew defeated the Galaxy 2-0 before a sellout crowd at Crew Stadium on Saturday.

"We don't have a reserve team. We have 23 guys. You saw that today," Warzycha said. "Everybody on this team is contributing. We have a very deep squad. I can play anybody on this team."

He showed through his first XI that he's putting great emphasis on Tuesday's CONCACAF Champions League home match vs. Saprissa of Costa Rica. A win will move the Crew into the quarterfinals and renders the final group game at Puerto Rico on Oct. 20 meaningless.

"We have a very important game Tuesday against Saprissa. That was the plan not to leave too much out there today," he said.

The Crew (12-4-10) were playing for the fifth time since Sept. 13 and the lineup reflected that.

Already minus MLS Defender of the Year Chad Marshall (left knee sprain) for a third consecutive game, reigning MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto was a reserve as were usual starters forward Alejandro Moreno, wide midfielder Robbie Rogers and defender Gino Padula, who had started all but one match.

Midfielder Kevin Burns had 67 career minutes and made his last of four appearances on July 18 before making his first start. Burns went 55 minutes before Adam Moffat took over in the central midfield.

"I'm been doing well in practice the past three weeks," Burns said. "I'm still not in game fitness. In the 55th minute I started cramping. I just wanted to blend in, make the simple midfield passes."

Also, Venezuelan forward Emilio Renteria, coming off three minutes against Chicago on Sunday in his MLS debut, started alongside Steven Lenhart.

The pair combined for the backbreaking goal in the 59th minute after Eddie Gaven scored in the 33th. Defender Eric Brunner sent an 80-yard outlet pass down the left side where Renteria ran onto the ball and headed it into the penalty area.

"It was one of those things where you want to get it out and it worked out," Brunner said. "Emilio was onside. He did a great job."

Renteria shielded the ball from Omar Gonzalez then fired on goal where Donovan Ricketts couldn't hold the save and left a rebound a couple of yards off the line. Lenhart outraced Gregg Berhalter to the ball and used his left foot to score his third goal.

"I'm happy to get my first game especially with Steven. I was totally at peace," Renteria said through an interpreter. "(Lenhart) speaks Spanish very well. He knows how to play very well. He gets along with all the players. He's a very good friend of mine. We're both Luchadores. We're both fighters. We love to get the ball and play."

William Hesmer needed to make only two saves for his sixth shutout.

"We have a deep team and we have a good team defensively. From the forwards on back, everybody plays defense," Brunner said.

Warzycha liked the way the Crew were able to overcome the sloppy field conditions, eight yellow cards apiece and 23 fouls by the Galaxy, who were without injured David Beckham but had only one loss in 13 previous away matches.

"I enjoyed the game. It was very good. It was one of the best performances. We were very good with both sides of the ball," he said. "The game showed the guys have some more trust between them and showed a lot of composure. It was a tough game for us, a lot of fouls."

After Tuesday's match the Crew play host to former coach Sigi Schmid and Seattle Sounders FC in their first trip to Columbus to complete a seven-game in 21 days stretch between the Champions League and MLS play. The Crew are 3-1-1 so far.

"We've had some huge wins against some of the best teams in the league this month. Hopefully, we can keep it going," Gaven said.

The only downside is that captain Frankie Hejduk will miss the Seattle match after exceeding the yellow card limit.

Then again, going to the bench has been no problem. Just don't call them reserves.

"Every guy can come on the field and do their job and help this team win," Gaven said. "That's going to help us as we keep on going during the season. We're playing so many games you can't play every guy every single game. We have a very deep team and we showed that tonight."

Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.