scored in the 79th minute to secure a playoff spot for the New England
Revolution with a 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew on Sunday night.
The victory in the final game of the
MLS regular season gave New England (11-10-9) 42 points and a playoff
berth at the expense of the Colorado Rapids, who fell from the ranks of
the eight teams to qualify.
Larentowicz’s first goal of the
season came on a free kick from 20 yards. The midfielder bent his
right-footed shot around the Crew defensive wall and past goalkeeper
Kenny Schoeni.
Columbus (13-7-10) already had
secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs as well as the
2009 Supporters’ Shield, given to the team with the best regular-season
record.
Columbus became only the second club to win the Supporters’ Shield in consecutive seasons.
Representatives from Columbus supporters’ groups were handed the Supporters’ Shield in a ceremony after the game.
However, the loss was the Crew’s
second straight at home after it went unbeaten for a league-record 24
straight games at Crew Stadium. Four of the Crew’s seven losses this
season have come in the last eight contests.
Schoeni, playing in place of regular
starter William Hesmer, made his best save of the night to prevent an
own goal in the 7th minute. Crew midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo‘s attempt to
clear a Revolution pass sent the ball zipping toward the Columbus goal
from close range, forcing Schoeni to dive to his left to keep the ball
out of the net.
Larentowicz tested Schoeni with a low strike from 22 yards in the 28th minute, but Schoeni gathered it into his midsection.