COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Crew returns to Crew Stadium Sunday (Sept. 2), to face Western Conference foe Colorado. Columbus (6-7-9, 27 pts.) is coming off a 1-1 draw at Houston last Saturday after playing down a man for more than 50 minutes. Former Dynamo striker Alejandro Moreno scored the Crew's goal in the 17th minute, off an assist from Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The assist was Schelotto's ninth of the year, moving him into a tie for first in the league in that category.
Sunday's match, which kicks off at 3 p.m., will be televised live 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 pregame show. The game can be heard live in English on The Brew @ 105.7 and on-line on TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Neil Sika behind the microphone, as well as in Spanish on Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM, with Marcelo Carrera, Eduardo "Eddie" Carvacho and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.
Colorado is coming off a decisive 3-0 defeat of the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday and it comes to Crew Stadium riding a three-game winning streak. This Sunday's match could have significant playoff implications, as Columbus and Colorado are currently tied for the eighth and final playoff position with 27 standings points apiece. The Crew is fifth in the East and the Rapids (7-9-6) are fourth in the West, but the top eight teams in the league qualify for the postseason, regardless of conference.
The Crew and Rapids meet for the second and final time this season and for the only time at Crew Stadium. The last time the two teams met, they played to a 0-0 tie in front of a July 4th crowd of 18,086 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The teams' Reserve Division squads will meet following Sunday's league match, at approximately 5:30 p.m.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. Colorado Rapids
Sunday, September 2 - 3 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium
National Television: Telefutura Local Television: CSN
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
FEATURING AUTOGRAPHED GAME-WORN JERSEYS, FINAL ROUND OF CSF's 'SOCCER AID V' AUCTIONS RUNS THROUGH FRIDAY AND INCLUDES SCHELOTTO'S
The Crew Soccer Foundation's online auctions for its Soccer Aid V fund-raiser continue this week with the final round of jerseys (Bid now >). The jerseys of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Ryan Junge, Stefani Miglioranzi, Alejandro Moreno, Danny O'Rourke and Tim Ward will remain on the auction block through Friday (Aug. 31). Soccer Aid, a unique annual fund-raiser, capitalizes on soccer fans' passion for the sport to raise money for charity through the non-profit arm of the Crew, including its primary beneficiary, the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Through its first four years, Soccer Aid has raised more than $25,000 for JDRF. The autographed black game jerseys being auctioned off feature a 'Soccer Aid V' patch and were worn by the Crew in its match vs. Aston Villa on July 28, marking the first time in the program's five-year history that has been incorporated. In addition to the jersey, winning bidders will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of match day at one-of-a-kind Columbus Crew Stadium, with two Center Circle Club seats to the Crew's game vs. the Chicago Fire on Sept. 8, a Soccer Aid T-shirt, on-field recognition and the opportunity to play a 30-minute scrimmage prior to the Sept. 8 game.
CREW SPONSORING RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUNDAY'S GAME
The Columbus Crew will host a blood drive this Sunday, September 2, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., in conjunction with its 3 p.m. game. All donors will be thanked with a voucher good for a complimentary ticket to that afternoon's game between the Crew and Colorado Rapids. Positive identification will be required in the form of a Red Cross donor card or photo ID showing date of birth. Blood donors must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, be at least 17 years of age, be in generally good health and have donated no more recently than July 9.
CREW STADIUM TO HOST INAUGURAL SOASA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION SUNDAY
The Southern Ohio Adult Soccer Association (SOASA) will hold the First Annual State Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet in the Huntington Club at Crew Stadium Sunday (Sept. 2). The induction ceremony and banquet will include the honoring of nine inaugural members and will take place from 12-2 p.m., prior to the Crew's home game against the Colorado Rapids at 3 p.m. The nine inductees will also be honored at midfield during halftime of the game that afternoon. The Southern Ohio Adult Soccer Association is the administrating body for all adult amateur (adult other than professional) affiliated soccer for players over 18 years of age.
FIRST ANNUAL CREW 5K TO BE RUN ON SEPT. 8 AT CREW STADIUM
The Crew and Run Wild Racing will present the first annual Columbus Crew 5K on Saturday, Sept. 8. The event will offer a number of unique features, including a free Crew ticket with each paid registration, a course that takes finishers through the Crew players' tunnel and onto the Crew Stadium field and a live awards ceremony at the Crew's game that evening. Every person who registers will receive a ticket to the Crew's game against the Chicago Fire later in the evening on Sept. 8, as well as a high-quality running shirt. Adding to the exciting finish, participants will also have their names broadcast by an official Crew public address announcer, with their image displayed on the giant screen in the stadium. Awards including VIP Terrace tickets and team autographed merchandise will be given to the top three male and female finishers as well as the top three finishers in each of nine age categories and a walker division. The run/walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Crew Stadium. Interested runners and walkers can visit www.runwildracing.com to register for the event. Pre-registration is $25 before Sept. 1 and $30 after Sept 1. Race day registration will be available and the cost is $35.
CREW FANS TO 'BLACK OUT' THE GALAXY AT CREW STADIUM SEPT. 30; LIMITED TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE
Fans attending the nearly sold-out game against the Galaxy are encouraged to show their support for the Black & Gold by wearing black attire to Crew Stadium that night. The "Black Out" is intended as a rallying point for Crew fans in attendance, while also providing an electric atmosphere for a match that is sure to have MLS playoff implications. While Crew fans are encouraged to don any piece of black attire for the September 30th contest, limited edition "09.30.07 Black Out" shirts will also be available for purchase that night in the Crew Gear merchandise store, while supplies last. Crew Stadium's permanent and auxiliary seating have been sold in their entirety for the match against Los Angeles, but standing-room-only tickets are still available to help accommodate the extraordinary demand for tickets, driven in part by the anticipated appearance of global icon and Galaxy midfielder David Beckham. Those tickets 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.
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., 8/29 Training at Crew Stadium, approx. 12:30 p.m.
Thur., 8/30 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m,
Fri., 8/31 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Sat., 9/1 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Sun., 9/2 Game vs. Colorado at Crew Stadium, 3 p.m.; Reserve Division match follows at approx. 5:30 p.m.
