Weekly update: 'Blackout' match sold out

After two straight on the road, the Crew returns home to play host to the Los Angeles Galaxy Sunday (Sept. 30) in a highly anticipated, sold-out match at Crew Stadium. Columbus (7-9-10, 31 pts.) is coming off a gutsy 2-1 win at Toronto FC and it is now just one point behind Chicago, which currently occupies the eighth and final playoff position.

Tickets will not be available for walk-up purchase on Sunday, but a very limited number of standing-room only tickets remained as of Noon today. Crew Stadium's permanent and auxiliary seating have been sold out since the end of July.

Sunday's match, which kicks off at 5 p.m. (ET), will be televised live nationally on HDNet and locally on CSN, with Dwight Burgess and Dante Washington calling all the action, Katie Witham reporting from the sidelines and Dionne Miller hosting the 30-minute pre-game show. The game can be heard live in English on 610 WTVN (PLEASE NOTE STATION CHANGE) and on-line on TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Neil Sika behind the microphone, as well as in Spanish on WXOL 1550-AM, with Marcelo Carrera, Eduardo "Eddie" Carvacho and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.

Fans attending Sunday's game are encouraged to show their support for the Black & Gold by wearing black attire. The "Black Out" will serve as a rallying point for Crew fans in attendance, while also enhancing the electric atmosphere of a key match with MLS playoff implications. While Crew fans are encouraged to don any piece of black attire, limited edition "09.30.07 Black Out" shirts will also be available for purchase in the Crew Gear merchandise store, while supplies last.

Several special Air Force events are on tap for Sunday, as the ASAF caps United States Air Force Heritage Week, which is part of this year's 60th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service within the Department of Defense. Scheduled events include a pregame F-16C Fighting Falcon flyover by the Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing based in Toledo, presentation of the colors by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Honor Guard on-field during the team player introductions, and special video "shout outs" from Airmen deployed around the world during the halftime show. The Air Force became a separate service Sept. 18, 1947 and there are more than 21,300 native Ohio Airmen serving around the globe today.

The Crew and Galaxy meet for the second and final time in the regular season and for the only time at Crew Stadium. The last time the two teams met, on June 23, Ezra Hendrickson was sent off in the 29th minute with the Crew leading 1-0 through a goal from Chad Marshall. The Crew overcame his ejection when Ned Grabavoy doubled the lead after the break. Gavin Glinton cut into the Crew's lead in the 66th minute but Alejandro Moreno answered with six minutes remaining to seal a big road victory. Former Crew forward Edson Buddle scored a late goal to make the last few moments interesting.

The two teams did meet once before that this season outside of league play, when the Galaxy traveled to Columbus for a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying match. L.A. defeated the Crew 1-0, as then-Galaxy forward Nate Jaqua tapped in a Landon Donovan cross in the 17th-minute for the game's only goal.

In last Saturday's game at Toronto, Jason Garey and Jacob Thomas each came up big, scoring their first goals of the 2007 season. Garey's goal equalized the match for Columbus in the 61st minute, off assists from Eddie Gaven and Frankie Hejduk. Thomas' game-winning goal came in the 83rd minute, when he pounced on a loose ball at midfield and streaked down the right side before slotting his goal past the Toronto FC goalkeeper, giving the Crew a much-needed three points and giving Columbus' MLS playoff hopes a boost. The Crew is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference and ninth overall in the playoff race, just one point behind Chicago (8-10-8, 32 pts.).

Los Angeles (5-13-6, 21 pts.) played twice last week, tying Real Salt Lake, 2-2, on Sept. 19 and defeating FC Dallas, 2-1, on Sunday. The Crew and Galaxy will play a Reserve Division match immediately following Sunday's league game, with kickoff scheduled for approximately 7:30 p.m.

The Crew Soccer Foundation, the club's charitable arm, will host its first annual Sports Memorabilia Auction and Raffle in the Stadium Club tent prior to and during Sunday's game against Los Angeles. Dozens of unique collectibles will be available from stars throughout the sports world, including David Beckham.

O'ROURKE'S ALMA MATER, WORTHINGTON KILBOURNE, RETIRES HIS JERSEY No. 9

Worthington Kilbourne High School has retired the men's soccer uniform No. 9 worn by Crew midfielder Danny O'Rourke when he captained the Wolves to the Division I State Championship as a senior in 2000. The ceremony took place last Thursday, Sept. 20, at halftime of Kilbourne's 2-1 victory over DeSales. A framed O'Rourke Crew jersey was also unveiled, which will go on display in the WKHS Athletic Hall of Fame alongside a photo of the 2000 championship squad. From Kilbourne, O'Rourke went on to star in college at perennial national-power Indiana, where he won the Hermann Trophy as college soccer's top player as a senior. He is now in his third professional season and first with his hometown team, following one each in San Jose and New York.

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., 9/26: Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Thur., 9/27: Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Fri., 9/28: Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Sat., 9/29: Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Sun., 9/30: Game vs. Los Angeles at Crew Stadium, 5 p.m.; Crew-L.A. Reserve Division match to follow
Mon., 10/1: OFF