COLUMBUS, Ohio - M-V- Crew defeated Cruz Azul Hgo, 1-0, to win the Third Annual Dominion Homes Copa Victoria Tournament held on Saturday, October 1 at Crew Stadium.
The 24-team, single-elimination adult Hispanic tournament, sponsored by Dominion Homes, Budweiser and adidas, began Saturday, August 13 and ended with the playing of the Finals prior to The Crew's match versus Chivas USA on Budweiser Hispanic Heritage Night.
"Today's Final was the culmination of another fantastic Dominion Homes Copa Victoria Tournament," said Mark McCullers, Crew General Manager. "This tournament allows our organization, as well as our partners, to reach out to an integral part of the Central Ohio community."
At halftime of The Crew's match against Chivas USA, M-V- Crew was awarded the championship trophy by McCullers, Budweiser's Ken Wright and Dominion Homes Representatives Antonio Ramirez and Zoilimar Angulo. Players from both teams were also awarded gold and silver medals, respectively.
The match was covered by Fronteras de la Noticia, The Columbus Dispatch's new Hispanic-based newspaper. Specifically highlighting the Finals of the Dominion Homes Copa Victoria Tournament on the front page, the first issues of Fronteras de la Noticia were distributed later that evening at Crew Stadium.
Tournament games were played at The Crew's Training Center at Obetz, Ohio Dominican University and Easton up until the title match at Crew Stadium. All 480 participants in the tournament received a ticket to the October 1 Crew game and $10 in food vouchers compliments of Dominion Homes, Budweiser and adidas.
The following teams participated in the 2005 Dominion Homes Copa Victoria Tournament: San Ber, Panteras, Pumas USA, Cruz Azul Hgo., Momias, Argentina, Columbus Star, El Salvador (OHASA), Santa Rita, Guatemala, Ohio Extreme, Andes FC, CD Metapan, Jalco Nay, M-V- Crew, CD Aguila, El Salvador (CHSL), Club River, Atletico Mexiquense, Santa Fe, Juventu, Brazil, Real Silao and Santos Laguna.
The Dominion Homes Copa Victoria Tournament is representative of The Columbus Crew's long-standing relationship with the Hispanic community in Central Ohio. In addition to coordinating the popular tournament, each year the Crew organizes Fubolito, the official 4v4 tournament of Major League Soccer, as well as Budweiser Hispanic Heritage Night.
The Crew and Spanish radio broadcast partner, WXOL RadioSol, also air each home match in Spanish. This year, on September 3, Crew Stadium hosted the most anticipated soccer match in the country as the U.S. Men's National Team defeated the Mexican National Team in World Cup Qualifying action, 2-0. The match sold out in 20 minutes on the first day tickets were made available to the general public.
