Carolina Cup Challenge Fire vs The Crew Games 5

It is Wednesday Feb 29th and we are in the car heading down to Charleston. Shawn had a statistics test and after hitting a few snags we are all in the car. It is going to be a big day of soccer starting with Italy vs US at 2:30 followed by 2 live matches.

The Carolina Challenge Cup is a preseaon tournetment hosted by the charleston battery. It is held at Blackbaud Stadium which is debated to be the first soccer specific stadium in the country. The first two games were held the previous Saturday. The Crew drew the Battery, and DC topped Chicago. Tonights games are Nattery vs Crew and Fire vs DC. A Crew win and a DC loss is the result we are looking for.

We are fortunate enough to get to share this experience with friends and family and in the car with us we have Jay from www.rattletheframe.com in the back seat. After about three and a half hours of pine tress and Jay Swearing at the bucket we finally arrive at out temporary base. It is a nice place right next to the beach. We have very little time before the US kickoff, so we down a beer and head off to Madra Rua.

Shawn was excited to go back to this place since he hasn't been back in several years. He and his friend Andy have this bar listed high on their list of best soccer bars in the county. It doesn't disappoint; it has a nice intimate feel and is perfect for watching the game. We find our way into a back room and sit down with fellow US fans. Most of the people in this viewing area are also going to the Carolina Challenge as well. There are Battery Fans, and we meet Traviers, a DC supporter, as well as our friend Stephanie. 

Also there was King Kev ruler of the Crew Union. We briefly touched on starting a 704 chapter of the Crew Union. More importantly though is the US looked awesome against Italy. Micahel Bradley was excellent and Clint Dempsey scored the goal. That was US's first victory against Italy and a well deserved one. Plus, it was a win on the continent of Europe.  Never an easy task. Lets hope we can keep it rolling.

After the Game we imeadiatley headed to Blackbaud Stadium. We sat in the corresponding corner at blackbaud where we do in crew stadium...so the vantage point was familiar. Still felt that comfortable crew supporters environment but scaled back a lot. The Crew held possession first half but couldn't score. 

     The second half was dreadful. As we subbed out, on top of an absent Dilly Duka - per U-23 usmnt - our midfield was not fluid. Mirosovic is talented but not as unifying, playmaking , and a hustler like Guillermo was.  Gets me thinking we may always be looking for another Guille, when in reality this substitution just isn't possible.  There's only one.  And at this point I'd like to remind Warzycha that Mr. Schelotto  is currently in Columbus and not signed by any club. 

     Any how this is preseason and there are a few areas that need to be address like the departure of Robbie Rogers and Ekpo. I kind of miss Robbie and his random runs and his lack of reading the field. He had energy and how long can Gaven and Marshall carry the weight? It is a last chance to look at some of those players that may be on the bubble on whether or not the are on the team. Two of those players were Number 32 Nemanja Vukovic from Montenegro and #31 Stephane Auvray from Guadeloupe. Both had flashes but time will tell if they get the nod.

 In the end we ended up with a loss. But it is Crewsgiving. And in the spirit, I give thanks for the Crew, soccer, and know that I am Columbus 'til I die.  CCcup is a time to scout our lineups, compare to lineups past and ones we ish we could create.  It reminds us that standing with Crew union, we are in a home. Family and friends old and new...the unifying glow of our Crew yellow. The anticipation of the coming season.  Anticipation of getting to see our hopes played out. The sheer joy and membership of being part of a campaign for MLS victory. For local pride...even though I live 500 miles south of the Cbus. Columbus 'til I die.