After securing three points in its thrilling, season-opening 2-0 win over Toronto FC last Saturday (March 29), the Crew takes to the road for the first time in 2008 as it travels to New York to tangle with Juan Pablo Angel, Claudio Reyna and the Red Bulls Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Giants Stadium.
Saturday's match will be televised live nationally on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports Español. It can also be heard live locally in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN, and on-line at TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Dwight Burgess calling all the action, as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM.
This weekend's match will be the season and home opener for New York, as new head coach Juan Carlos Osorio makes his regular-season debut with the Red Bulls, after leaving the Chicago Fire for New York in December. It will be the first of three meetings between the Crew and Red Bulls this season, and the first of two matches at Giants Stadium. The Crew is 19-19-5 all-time vs. New York.
The Black & Gold got the season off to an auspicious start Saturday, before a raucous Opening Day crowd. Adam Moffat scored the first goal and later cleared the rebound of William Hesmer's penalty-kick save out of danger, then Alejandro Moreno iced the game with a second half goal.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. New York Red Bulls
Saturday, April 5 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Giants Stadium
National Television:
FSC/FSE;
Local Television:
N/A
Crew Radio:
News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Que Buena 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts:
TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
DEFENDER GINO PADULA ADDED TO ROSTER, GRIFFIN WAIVED
Recently-signed left back Gino Padula has received all necessary clearance and has been officially added to the Crew's roster. Padula, who signed with the Crew on March 24 and was waiting approval of his P-1 visa, will join the club this week. To make room for Padula on its senior roster, the Crew has waived Leonard Griffin. A 25-year-old defender, Griffin did not appear in a league match for the Crew after his rights were acquired from Chicago last Sept. 14.
KEVIN BURNS PLACED ON SEASON-ENDING INJURY LIST
The Crew announced today that it has placed midfielder Kevin Burns on the season-ending injury list, due to a right ankle chondral defect. Burns signed a developmental contract with the Crew on March 17, after being its fourth-round selection in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft (No. 50 overall) out of the University of Connecticut. He spent the 2007 season with the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the United Soccer Leagues First Division, where he made 17 appearances for the Rhinos and was named the club's Rookie of the Year.
MOFFAT SCORES FIRST MLS GOAL IN CREW STADIUM DEBUT
Midfielder Adam Moffat scored the game-winning goal in the 26th minute of the Crew's 2-0 victory in its season opener vs. Toronto Saturday, March 29. The goal, which was assisted by Brian Carroll, was Moffat's first with the Crew and in his MLS career. The tally was also the first of the 2008 MLS regular season, as the Crew-Toronto game kicked off earlier than any other. Moffat capped his stellar debut with a goalmouth clearance of William Hesmer's penalty-kick save moments before halftime and narrowly missed a second goal, heading a shot off the crossbar.
HESMER REGISTERS SHUTOUT IN FIRST MATCH OF 2008
Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer made three saves in registering his first shutout of 2008, the Crew's 2-0 victory vs. TFC Saturday, March 29. Hesmer's day was highlighted by the fantastic save of Collin Samuel's attempted penalty kick, seconds before the halftime whistle, maintaining the clean sheet for the Black & Gold. The shutout is the seventh of Hesmer's MLS career.
CARROLL, IRO MAKE BLACK & GOLD DEBUTS IN SEASON OPENER
Midfielder Brian Carroll, acquired from San Jose in November, and defender Andy Iro, the Crew's first-round (No. 6 overall) selection in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, each made their Crew debuts in the club's 2-0 victory over Toronto in its MLS season opener Saturday, March 29. Carroll made the most of his first appearance with the Crew, registering the game-winning assist on Adam Moffat's goal in the 26th minute. Iro came on as a defensive substitute for Guillermo Barros Schelotto in the 89th minute.
CREW RECEIVES CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Columbus City Council on Monday, March 31, presented the Crew with a Resolution of Expression, introduced by Council Member Priscilla R. Tyson, recognizing the club's first 12 MLS seasons of accomplishment, both on and off the field, and wishing it luck as it embarks upon its 13th. Crew General Manager Mark McCullers, Head Coach Sigi Schmid and defender Danny O'Rourke were on hand at City Hall to receive the Resolution during Council's meeting.
CREW DEFEATS UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY IN RESERVE FRIENDLY AT OBETZ
The Crew Reserve squad defeated the University of Alabama-Birmingham, 4-0, in a reserve friendly at the Crew's Obetz Training Facility on Sunday morning (March 30). The Crew got its first goal from Guilherme Só, off a beautifully-taken bicycle kick, which was followed just minutes later by a tally from George Josten off a well-struck volley. The Crew rounded out the scoring in the second half, thanks to two more goals by Jason Garey and Steven Lenhart, respectively.
CREW SOCCER ACADEMY OPENS HOME SLATE OVER WEEKEND, HEADS TO DETROIT THIS WEEKEND
The Crew Soccer Academy squads made their home debuts in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play last weekend, March 29-30. On Saturday, CSA took on Carmel United (Indianapolis, Ind.) at the Crew Training Center at Obetz. The Under-16s suffered a 2-0 setback against Carmel, while the Under-18s defeated its Carmel counterparts, 1-0, behind a Derek Sebert goal. On Sunday, CSA hosted Empire (N.Y.) in a pair of matches at Ohio Dominican University. The U-16s kicked things off by earning a 1-1 draw with Empire despite playing the final 60 minutes a man down. The CSA goal was registered by Ebby Perez off a penalty kick, after William Phiri was taken down in the Empire box. The Under-18s squared off next, with the CSA squad taking care of business, 3-0, with goals by Colby Catlett, Matt Bonfini and David Schade. The CSA squads take to the road this weekend as they head to Detroit to take on two clubs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Both teams will take on Vardar this Saturday and will face off against the Michigan Wolves on Sunday.
CREW TO TAKE ON CLEVELAND CITY STARS IN FRIENDLY MATCH APRIL 13 IN CLEVELAND
The Crew travels to Cleveland Sunday, April 13, for an exhibition match vs. the Cleveland City Stars of the USL Second Division at 5 p.m. The City Stars kick off their second season this month, after enjoying a successful inaugural season in the USL-2 in 2007. The friendly match is part of Cleveland's "2008 Season Launch Weekend." Current Crew players Adam Moffat and Andrew Peterson spent time with Cleveland last year.
CREW NAMED A FINALIST FOR 2008 CORPORATE CARING AWARD
Along with its charitable arm, the Crew Soccer Foundation, the Crew has been named a Finalist for a 2008 Corporate Caring Award. Business First and sponsors Battelle, Grange Insurance, KPMG, Mills/James Productions, and Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease will celebrate corporate philanthropy in Columbus on April 10, presenting awards at the 12th Annual Corporate Caring Awards Luncheon that will be held at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom.
CREW TRAINING AND GAME SCHEDULE
(Media availability at the conclusion of training; All times listed Eastern Time)
Thur., 4/3 Training at Ohio Dominican, 10 a.m.
Fri., 4/4 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.; Depart for N.Y.
Sat., 4/5 Game at New York Red Bulls, Giants Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., 4/6 Return from N.Y.
Mon., 4/7 Off
