The first-place Crew will look to run their team and MLS record unbeaten streak to 16 games when the Black & Gold travel to the Windy City to face the Chicago Fire on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Soldier Field. The Crew are unbeaten in their last 15 games (7-0-8) after a 3-3 tie vs. Chicago last Saturday at Crew Stadium.
The Crew (11-5-11, 44 pts.) lead the MetroStars (11-11-6, 39 pts.) by five points for first place in the Eastern Conference and need just two points gained or lost by the MetroStars to capture their first-ever regular season conference title. Columbus has three games remaining and the rest of the East just two.
Wednesday's game will be televised on Fox Sports Net, while Saturday's game can be seen on the MLS Direct Kick package. Wednesday's and Saturday's games can be heard in English on Eagle, 103.9, or online through TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com.
COLUMBUS CREW at Chicago Fire
Wednesday, Oct. 6 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) at Soldier Field
Crew Television: Fox Sports Net; Crew Radio: The New Eagle, 103.9 (English)
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
COLUMBUS CREW at MetroStars
Saturday, Oct. 9 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Giants Stadium
Crew Radio: The New Eagle, 103.9 (English)
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
CREW STRETCH UNBEATEN STREAK TO 15 GAMES, TIES LONGEST UNBEATEN STREAK IN MLS HISTORY
After their 3-3 tie vs. Chicago last Saturday, the Crew stretched their unbeaten streak to 15 consecutive games (7-0-8), and tied the longest unbeaten streak in MLS history. The 15-game unbeaten run is tied with a 15-game streak by Los Angeles over the course of the 1997 and 1998 seasons (shootouts included). Los Angeles won their last six games of 1997 and their first nine of 1998. The Crew's 15-game run is the longest unbeaten streak in one season, shattering the old mark of 12. The previous Crew record was nine (7-0-2), set on 7/4 to 8/19, 2001. Columbus also had a seven-game (4-0-3) unbeaten streak earlier in the year from 5/1 to 6/12 that ranks as the third longest unbeaten streak in team history.
PLAYOFF TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE, CREW CAN WIN THEIR FIRST-EVER REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE TITLE WITH A WIN ON WEDNESDAY
The Crew's magic number to capture their first-ever regular season conference title is two points, through any combination of two points gained by Columbus or lost by the MetroStars. A win Wednesday in Chicago would give Columbus three points and ensure the Crew home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Crew have three games left and the rest of the East just two. The Crew will be making their seventh playoff appearance in nine seasons.
Crew playoff tickets are now on sale as Columbus will host game two of the Eastern Conference semifinals on either Oct. 30 or 31. The conference semifinals are two-game, home-and-home, total-goal series with game one at the lower seeded team on either Oct. 23 or 24. If the teams are tied in total goals at the end of game two, a 30-minute overtime will be played (no sudden death). If the teams are still tied, the series will be decided by penalty kicks. The conference final is one game on Nov. 6 at the higher seeded team, with the same overtime and penalty kick procedure as the conference semifinals. MLS Cup is on Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., with the same overtime and penalty kick guidelines.
Tickets for Crew playoffs games can be acquired at the Crew Stadium Box Office, at any area Kroger Ticket Master outlet, via phone at 614-431-3600 or on line at TheCrew.com. Crew season ticket holders have game one of the playoffs in their ticket packages.
EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
GP W L T PTS GF GA STREAKS
Columbus Crew 27 11 5 11 44 37 30 Tied 1
MetroStars 28 11 11 6 39 44 45 Lost 1
D.C. United 28 9 10 9 36 39 40 Won 1
Chicago Fire 28 8 11 9 33 35 41 Tied 1
New England Revolution 28 7 12 9 30 40 41 Won 1
GAMES REMAINING FOR THE EASTERN CONFERENCE (GAMES LEFT)
CREW (3): at Chicago (10/6), at MetroStars (10/9), at Colorado (10/16)
METROSTARS (2): vs. Columbus (10/9), at D.C. (10/17)
D.C. UNITED (2): vs. New England (10/9), vs. MetroStars (10/17)
CHICAGO (2): vs. Columbus (10/6), at New England (10/16)
NEW ENGLAND (2): at D.C. (10/9), vs. Chicago (10/16)
