COLUMBUS, Ohio – Emilio Rentería said he wasn’t “aiming” at anyone when he pretended to be an archer firing arrows after he scored what proved to be the winning goal Saturday in Crew Stadium.
Rentería followed Eddie Gaven’s score in the ninth minute with his version of basketball’s low post by fending off Austin Berry and firing a turnaround shot into the goal in the 43rd minute for a two-goal lead as the Crew bagged a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire.
OPTA Chalkboard: Rentería everywhere for Columbus
The big Venezuelan was adamant that he was taking aim at the 600-plus traveling Fire supporters.
“No, no,” Rentería said through a translator. “Somebody said I was pointing at them. It was just something fun. That was a celebration I said I was going to do when I scored. Hopefully I can do more.”
Rentería is smiling a lot lately after coming alive for two goals in Columbus’ past two games. The Crew expected a lot from him after he scored eight times in 18 games last season. But he had seen as much bench time as the playing field for most of this year.
On Wednesday in Seattle, when he opened his 2012 account with a surefire Goal of the Week nominee, he celebrated his goal with a salsa, displaying light feet that were finally unburdened by the 800-pound goalless gorilla on his back.
“I feel better, but I’m always under pressure because it’s my job to score goals,” Rentería said. “That’s what I want to do. That’s why I decided to be a forward.“
The most important thing is the team won [on Saturday] and I helped not only scoring, but doing everything the coach asked. I’m happy for the three points.”
