LIVERPOOL, England - The Columbus Crew fell to the Everton FC Reserves, 1-0, this morning at Everton's training facility in Liverpool, England. It was the Crew's second and final match of the England leg of its preseason, after defeating the Blackburn Rovers Reserves on Thursday.
The Toffees scored the lone goal of the match in the 58th minute, when neither side seemed able to gain clear control of the ball on the left side of the Crew defense. After a brief battle for possession, Everton was able to gain the advantage and whipped a cross into the Crew box which was deposited into the back of the net for the only goal of the match.
The Crew's lineup was: Will Hesmer, Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall, Danny O'Rourke, Gino Padula (Leonard Griffin 70), Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Brian Carroll, Stefani Miglioranzi, Brad Evans, Nicolas Hernandez (Guilherme Só 45), Alejandro Moreno
The Crew will resume training tomorrow at the Blackburn Rovers training grounds before attending an English Premier League clash between Fulham and Blackburn Saturday evening. The club returns to Columbus Sunday where it will resume training, likely for the balance of the preseason. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the club will not be going to New Orleans from March 11-17, as originally planned.
Founded by American sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, the Columbus Crew is Ohio's Major League Soccer club, anchoring a diverse sports and entertainment enterprise. One of the league's Charter Members and U.S. Open Cup champion in 2002, it will open its 13th season overall and 10th in first-of-its-kind Columbus Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 29, when it plays host to Eastern Conference-rival Toronto FC.
