By Dylan Butler

The Columbus Crew already has clinched a berth in the Major League Soccer playoffs and could lock up a second consecutive Supporters Shield.

A berth in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals would make a nice triple.

That's why the squad wasn't that upset following a 1-0 loss to D.C. United at RFK Stadium Saturday night.

"We can clinch the second round of the Champions League and that is a very important game for the guys and also for the club," coach Robert Warzycha said. "We can bounce back from this game. We have a game against New England at home. The game against Puerto Rico is very important."

Columbus has seven points from five matches and is two points in front of Deportivo Saprissa for second place in Group C. A win or a draw at Puerto Rico sends the Crew through to the Champions League knockout stage.

Saprissa must travel to Mexico City to play already qualified Cruz Azul, needing a least a victory to have any chance of advancing.

With Tuesday's game against Puerto Rico on his mind, Warzycha sat Brian Carroll and Gino Padula, while Argentine veteran Guillermo Barros Schelotto played less than an hour on Saturday.

"We have another very important game against Puerto Rico, so I was trying to rest some guys basically for that game against Puerto Rico and obviously give some minutes to the other guys," Warzycha said.

Puerto Rico, a semifinalist last season, already has been eliminated from contention. And with the United Soccer Leagues season over, the Islanders are looking to play the part of spoiler in Bayamon.

"If you look at the bigger picture, we need to get some type of result in Puerto Rico, which isn't going to be easy," Crew midfielder Robbie Rogers said. "It may be raining down there and the field is going to be bad as well."

Cruz Azul already has clinched its berth in the Champions League quarterfinals, but La Maquina will look to bounce back from what coach Enrique Meza viewed a disappointing 3-1 win against Estudiantes Saturday at Estadio Azul.

Los Azulinos needed goals by Javier Oroczco and Emanuel Villa in the final 10 minutes to defeat 10-man Estudiantes. Rogelio Martinez also scored in the 46th minute for La Maquina, which has 21 points in Group 3 of the Mexican Apertura.

"We did not do anything right, but a victory under those circumstances I find extremely valuable," Meza said. "We had no conjunction, we lacked mobility and we took risks, but they did not capitalize."

Columbus won in Costa Rica and drew with Saprissa in its home leg to assure itself of winning any tiebreaker against the Central American club. Now it still needs a draw to assure MLS of at least one team in the knockout stage.