COLUMBUS, Ohio - Coming off its fifth victory in seven games Sunday, the Columbus Crew will play host to Aston Villa FC of the English Premier League this Saturday, July 28, at 7:30 p.m. in an international exhibition match at Crew Stadium. Aston Villa, one of England's oldest and most renowned clubs, is owned by Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner.
The game is classified as 'Special Game B' for Crew Soccer Nation Gold members and single-game tickets, including a package that includes a commemorative souvenir scarf, are still available at TheCrew.com. The match can also be heard live exclusively via a Webcast at TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Neil Sika calling all the action.
The Crew is 7-1-2 all-time in international exhibitions, including 2-0-2 against teams from the English Premier League. The Black & Gold downed Leeds, 2-1, in 1997; tied Newcastle, 2-2, in 2000; defeated Fulham, 2-1, in 2005; and tied Everton, 1-1, last July.
Based in Birmingham, England, and coached by highly respected manager Martin O'Neill, Aston Villa finished 11th in the 20-team Premier League in 2006-07, with an 11-10-17 record (50 pts.). The exhibition vs. the Crew comes during an important phase in Aston Villa's preparations for the upcoming Premier League campaign, which kicks-off in mid-August, and on the heels of a similar exhibition they'll play vs. Toronto FC at BMO Field on Wednesday (July 25).
Aston Villa Football Club was founded by members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel in Aston, now part of Birmingham, in 1874. The club was one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888, and it enjoyed a great deal of early success, winning the F.A. Cup in 1887 and 1895, and taking the League title in 1894 and 1896. In 1897 it also achieved the accolade of becoming the first side to win the coveted 'Double,' by securing both the FA Cup and League Championships.
Villa went 37 years without a trophy between 1920 and 1957, before winning the FA Cup at Wembley in '57. League Cup successes in 1961, 1975 and 1977 proved to be the prelude to the greatest years in its history, as the Football League title was regained in 1981 and followed by an unprecedented lifting of the European Cup 12 months later. With the cup win, Villa became one of only four English teams to have won the European Champions Cup, while also becoming the first club to ever beat German-power Bayern Munich in a final. Villa is celebrating the 25th anniversary of that triumph this month.
Aston Villa became a founding member of the English Premier League in 1992 and is one of an elite group of only seven clubs that have played in every Premiership season. It has spent 97 seasons in the top flight, the second most of any English team (Everton FC - 104), and has produced more England internationals than any other club to date, with 63. Premier League runners-up under Ron Atkinson in 1993, Villa has also been managed by former England boss Graham Taylor and David O'Leary. O'Neill was appointed manager in July 2006 and Lerner acquired a controlling interest in the club the following month.
The Crew rebounded from its first setback in seven games July 14 at Chivas by getting back on track Sunday (July 22) with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Toronto FC behind two goals from Guillermo Barros Schelotto. Columbus is now 6-5-7 (25 points) overall, just two points out of first place. It returns to league action next Saturday, Aug. 4, at Chicago.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. Aston Villa FC (English Premier League)
Saturday, July 28 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Columbus Crew Stadium
International Exhibition Match
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
CREW STADIUM SOLD TO CAPACITY FOR SEPT. 30 GAME VS. L.A. AND AUXILIARY SEATING GOING FAST
Crew Stadium's permanent capacity has been sold in its entirety for the Crew's Sept. 30 match against the Los Angeles Galaxy and auxiliary seating will be added in the facility's south end to help accommodate the extraordinary demand for tickets, which is being driven primarily by the anticipated appearance of global superstar David Beckham. Those seats are selling rapidly as well, with approximately 250 remaining, which are being sold as part of a $60 three-game package that also includes a ticket to any other two games. Orders are being accepted at www.TheCrew.com and 614-447-CREW.
BARROS SCHELOTTO NAMED MLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Crew forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto was selected as Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for his two-goal performance against Toronto FC in Week 16. On Sunday, July 22, Schelotto scored twice to lead the Crew to its fifth win in seven matches. The victory moved Columbus (6-5-7, 25 pts) to within striking distance of the Eastern Conference lead. A native of La Plata, Argentina, Schelotto spent 11 years at Argentine giants Boca Juniors, establishing himself as one of the most talented midfielders in all of South America. Since signing with Columbus in mid-April, Schelotto has helped turn the Crew into Eastern Conference contenders. He has established himself as a multi-faceted offensive weapon for the Crew tallying four goals and seven assists, both team highs, and he is second in the league in assists.
HESMER IS SECOND IN THE LEAGUE IN GOALS-AGAINST AVERAGE
Goalkeeper Will Hesmer currently ranks second in Major League Soccer in goals-against average (GAA). His 1.00 GAA is second only to Houston's Pat Onstad (0.76) among MLS keepers who have played at least 500 minutes. Acquired in an Expansion Draft-day trade with Toronto, which had selected him from Kansas City, Hesmer was sidelined for the first six weeks of this season with a right hamstring injury. But he has started each of the club's last eight games, in which it has gone 5-1-2, and recorded four shutouts.
CREW FOUL MAGNETS
The Crew is the second-most fouled team in Major League Soccer, with its 250 fouls suffered behind only Houston's 275. Columbus is paced by forwards Alejandro Moreno - the most fouled man in MLS with 51 - and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who has been on the receiving end 41 times in just 13 games.
CREW U-17s ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS OF SUM U-17 CUP IN COLORADO
The Crew advanced to the semifinals of the inaugural SUM U-17 Cup in Commerce City, Colo., last week, before falling to the Kansas City Wizards, 3-2, on a late goal Tuesday, June 17, at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park complex. The Crew qualified as the second-place team with the best record, along with three group winners. The Crew went 2-0-1 in group play, tying eventual-champion D.C. United, 2-2, and defeating Real Salt Lake, 2-1, and the Colorado Rapids, 1-0. Soccer United Marketing's inaugural Youth Development soccer tournament kicked off on Friday, July 13, and was held in conjunction with the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game.
FIFTH ANNUAL COPA VICTORIA TOURNAMENT CONTNUES AT CREW TRAINING CENTER AT OBETZ
In partnership with Roush Honda, Budweiser and adidas, the Crew's fifth annual Copa Victoria adult Hispanic soccer tournament kicked off on June 16 at the Crew Training Center at Obetz. The 24-team, single-elimination tournament resumes on Saturday and concludes with the championship game at Crew Stadium prior to the Crew's game vs. D.C. United on Saturday, Aug. 18. An additional tournament match day is scheduled for Aug. 4 at the Crew Training Center, which is located at 4153 Alum Creek Drive in Obetz. All matches are free and open to the public. On Saturday, May 26, the Crew and representatives from participating leagues held the official tournament draw in the Stadium Club at Crew Stadium. Team managers and all 480 players from the 24 participating teams were invited to attend the unveiling of the tournament bracket, and were later treated to the Crew's game against Toronto FC along with $10 in food vouchers compliments of Roush Honda, Budweiser and adidas. Tournament standings, pairings, rules and information will be posted on the Crew's official Web site, www.thecrew.com, and in other print media. The winner of the tournament will be awarded the championship trophy at halftime of the Aug. 18 Crew game.
DON'T MISS 'CREW CORNER' THURSDAYS AT 6 and 6:30 p.m. ON CSN
The Columbus Sports Network (CSN) produces and airs a weekly magazine show dedicated solely to the Crew, called 'Crew Corner.' Hosted by Dionne Miller, the 30-minute program is refreshed each week with compelling content that is unique and dynamic, including "behind the scenes" perspectives and profiles about players, coaches and team officials; glimpses into the teams' participation in a variety of community and charitable activities; and game and league highlights. Each episode of 'Crew Corner' will air first on Thursdays at 6 p.m., and be replayed immediately afterward at 6:30 p.m. In addition, every show will be replayed repeatedly at different times throughout the following seven days to make it conveniently available to fans.
CREW TRAINING AND GAME SCHEDULE
(Media availability at the conclusion of training; All times listed Eastern Time)
Wed., 7/25 - OFF
Thur., 7/26 - OFF
Fri., 7/27 - Training at Obetz, 2:30 p.m.
Sat., 7/28 - International Exhibition Game vs. Aston Villa (England) at Crew Stadium 7:30 p.m.
Sun., 7/29 - OFF
Mon., 7/30 - OFF
