COLUMBUS, Ohio - Columbus Crew interim general manager Mark McCullers announced Wednesday that Crew Stadium's Huntington Club will host viewing parties this Saturday and Oct. 13.
On Saturday, The Huntington Club will show the Crew at the MetroStars game at 7:30 p.m. and the U.S. World Cup Qualifying game against El Salvador at 9 p.m. Next Wednesday The Huntington Club will televise the U.S. vs. Panama qualifier at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the viewing parties is free with beverages available for purchase.
These two U.S. qualifiers are the final two games before the national team makes its way to Columbus on Nov. 17 for the U.S. Men's national team's final match of semifinal-round qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. will take on Jamaica at Crew Stadium at 7:30 p.m. (ET).
Tickets for the crucial match in Columbus, which could decide whether the U.S. advances to the final round of qualifying for Germany 2006, are currently on sale and are priced from $35 (endlines) to $85 (VIP club seats). Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets (including all Kroger's stores) in Ohio and the surrounding states and by phone at 614-431-3600. Tickets are also available at the Crew Stadium box office (open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.), and on-line at ussoccer.com, ticketmaster.com, crewstadium.com and thecrew.com.
The U.S. men's national team opened the semifinal round of qualifying with a dramatic 1-1 draw in Jamaica. In its first home match on Sept. 4, the U.S. dominated El Salvador and pulled out a decisive 2-0 victory. The U.S. pulled out another improbable finish in its third match in Panama, overcoming a shaky second half to tie the match 1-1 in the 92nd minute. The tie in Panama City gave the U.S. another key point on the road and helped them remain in first place in Group 1 with five points on a 1-0-2 record. The top two teams out of the four will advance to the final round of qualifying that begins next year.
Group 1 standings
Teams G W L T GF GA GD Pts
USA 3 1 0 2 4 2 +2 5
Jamaica 3 1 1 1 5 3 +2 4
Panama 1 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
El Salvador 3 1 2 0 2 6 -4 3
Group 1 schedule
October 9
El Salvador vs USA Cuscatlan Stadium; San Salvador, El Salvador 9 p.m.
Panama vs Jamaica Fernandez Stadium; Panama City, Panama TBD
October 13
USA vs Panama RFK Stadium; Washington, D.C. 7:30 p.m.
Jamaica vs El Salvador National Stadium; Kingston, Jamaica TBD
November 17
USA vs Jamaica Crew Stadium; Columbus, Ohio 7:30 p.m.
Panama vs El Salvador Fernandez Stadium; Panama City, Panama TBD
