Findley's hat trick fuels RSL rout of Crew

RSL forward notches club's first hat trick in rout of defending MLS champions

Robbie Findley's speed and pressure beat the Crew backline on Thursday night. (O. Greule/Getty)

Findley scored RSL's first three goals to help his team rebound from a season-opening loss in terrific fashion with a 4-1 victory against the defending MLS Cup champions on Thursday night.

Findley's first-half goals gave him only his second multiple goal game in an RSL uniform and his first since his debut match with the club in 2007.

His three goals also marked the first hat trick for an RSL player in MLS play. Previously, head coach Jason Kreis accounted for three goals by himself in a U.S. Open Cup game.

RSL jumped on the Crew with lightning speed. Will Johnson barreled a free kick right at Columbus 'keeper William Hesmer in the second minute. Hesmer blocked the shot with his hands and forced the ball right into the path of Findley on the right side of the area.

The energetic forward rocketed it right back at Hesmer, sending the ball zipping past him and into the net for a quick 1-0 RSL lead.

Columbus found the equalizer in the 22nd minute when Gino Padula lobbed a ball into the goal area from a short corner. It took a couple of bounces off a scrum of RSL and Crew players and came to the feet of Jason Garey. Sliding forward, Garey volleyed the ball past the line for the unassisted goal before Real 'keeper Nick Rimando could scramble to the post to make the save.

Findley helped RSL waste no time seizing the advantage again. Hesmer's clearance attempt fell to Findley's feet just outside the penalty area in the 29th minute. With him already a step ahead of the Crew defenders, Findley just had Hesmer to beat. Hesmer came out to challenge, but Findley just dribbled around the falling 'keeper and slotted the ball into an empty net to make it 2-1.

Findley made a move to score again in the 33rd minute and complete the first-half hat trick when he took a through ball delivered by Javier Morales. But Danny O'Rourke came up with a well-timed tackle before Findley could pick up steam in the penalty area.

Yura Movsisyan came back with another attack a couple of minutes later when Findley headed a ball to his counterpart up top. Movsisyan had a nice one-on-one chance with Hesmer. But he was dragging a couple of Crew defenders with him most of the way and the Crew 'keeper came out and easily blocked the drive.

A yellow card issued to Nat Borchers in the 42nd minute set up a free kick by Guillermo Barros Schelotto. That in turn led to a corner kick by Schelotto, but Kyle Beckerman headed his cross into the goal area out to safety.

Columbus tried to use another corner kick from Schelotto to get its offense going in the 50th minute. Schelotto swung the ball toward the near post to try and set up a header, but his shot sailed too far and went across the end line.

Movsisyan tried to add a third Real goal in the 56th minute by uncorking it from long range. His shot didn't have enough velocity to do much of anything except skip along the grass and roll right into the waiting hands of Hesmer.

RSL's third goal finally came from Findley, the player who delivered the first two, in the 62nd minute. Clint Mathis flicked a header down to Movsisyan in the left corner to start the play. Movsisyan then crossed to Findley, who was unmarked in front of the six-yard box. Findley put his head under the ball and sent it sailing into the back of the net.

Findley nearly set up Movsisyan with a fourth goal in the 66th minute. He won a challenge with O'Rourke and crossed to Movsisyan. His shot was knocked away perfectly by Hesmer.

It only delayed the inevitable goal. Clint Mathis swung a corner kick in the 67th minute into Beckerman and the midfielder headed home at the near post to make it 4-1 in favor of RSL.

Real nearly tacked on a fifth goal in the 81st minute when Will Johnson tried to slot the ball inside the far post from near the top of the area. Johnson had a good look, but the ball fell just out of frame and scooted wide left of the post.

Another good chance came in the 85th minute when Ned Grabavoy penetrated the area and fed a pass further ahead to Movsisyan. A split second later, Movsisyan unleashed a nice volley but Hesmer blocked it away to keep that potential fifth goal off the board.

Real now has the weekend off before returning to action next Saturday, April 11, against D.C. United at Rio Tinto Stadium. The defending champion Crew, still winless after three games this season, continue their two-game Western swing when they take on Chivas USA on Sunday afternoon at The Home Depot Center.

John Coon is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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