The MLS Team Columbus Crew faced the Mexican League Football Team Toluca in Columbus, Ohio for the CONCACAF Champions League. The Columbus Crew is the only MLS [Major League Soccer] Team remaining in this tournament.

The Crew had the disadvantage of not having Guillermo Barros Schelotto [midfielder] and Frankie Hejduk [defender] because both players received an accumulation of yellow cards. It was also in active since the MLS Season does not begin until the end of March.

Toluca was undefeated in its last three games even though it has won two out of nine games in the Mexican League. It remained to be seen who would have the advantage in this game since Mexico had more experience than Ohio in football [soccer].

Toluca started the first half with posession of the ball with the Crew attempting to weaken their defenses. Regardless, the way in which the ball passed from one of the Crew players to the other was taken advantage of by Toluca.

The goalkeeper was not alert and Antonio «Sinha» Naelson scored the first goal at 19 minutes. Toluca continued to maintain the momentum and control of the ball and the game. It appeared that some of the Crew players were losing the will to play.

The second goal by Rios for Toluca at 45 minutes stunned the Columbus Crew into a state of alert. The Crew changed their tactics in the second half and started to debilitate the Toluca defenses. At one time, Emmanuel Etko [Columbus Crew] was challenging the goalkeeper for Toluca Alfredo Talavera.

Steven Lenhart decided that enough was enough and scored two goals within 66 and 84 minutes in order to equalize the game. In the end, the manager of Toluca Juan Manuel de la Torre made a statement saying that their next opponent was Cruz Azul [another Mexican League Team] instead of Columbus Crew.

In the opinion of the underwriter, this is uncalled for since Columbus Crew and the US Soccer Team are trying to play the best football/soccer. The next game between Toluca and Columbus Crew will be on the 17th of March 2010 in Mexico.

The Columbus Crew must attempt to win the next game against Toluca or score a draw of 3-3 or more in order to remain in contention and go to the semifinals. Toluca must either have a draw of 0, score one goal, or win in order to advance.

The rivalry is sure to continue.

http://my.nowpublic.com/sports/columbus-crew-2-2-toluca-ohio