COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Crew returns to action on Saturday in Chicago, when it will take on the Eastern Conference-rival Fire at TOYOTA Park. Columbus (6-5-7, 25 pts.) is coming off a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa of the English Premier League in an international exhibition Saturday at Crew Stadium, but the Crew won five times in its last seven league games and is fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, just two points behind third-place New York and five points out of first.
Saturday's match, which kicks off at 8:30 p.m. (ET), will be televised nationally on HDNet and shown at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar on Bethel Road (5240 Bethel Centre Mall), the Crew's "Official Away Game Headquarters." It can also be heard live locally in English on The Brew @ 105.7 and on-line on TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Dwight Burgess calling all the action, as well as in Spanish on Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM.
Chicago (5-8-4, 19 pts.), tied for fifth in the East, is coming off a 3-0 victory at Toronto FC on Sunday. The Crew topped Toronto, 2-0, on July 22 in its last league match, with Guillermo Barros Schelotto scoring both goals - a performance that earned him MLS Player of the Week honors last week. The Crew and Fire meet for the second of three times this season and the second and final time at TOYOTA Park. Chicago won the first game, 3-2, on June 3, and the teams meet for a final time on Sept. 8, at Crew Stadium.
COLUMBUS CREW at Chicago Fire
Saturday, August 4 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) at TOYOTA Park
National Television: HDNet; Local Television: N/A
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
CREW VISITS CLEVELAND TUESDAY FOR EXHIBITION MATCH VS. CITY STARS
The Crew travel to downtown Cleveland's Krenzler Field Tuesday (July 31) for an exhibition match vs. the Cleveland City Stars of the USL Second Division at 7 p.m. Cleveland is tied for second in its inaugural season, with a 9-1-8 record and 35 points, and has clinched a USL-2 playoff berth. Recently signed Crew defender Andrew Peterson opened the season with Cleveland and former Crew defender (2005) and Brecksville native Mark Schulte was the first player signed by the City Stars.
STANDING-ROOM TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR SEPT. 30 GAME VS. L.A.
Crew Stadium's permanent and auxiliary seating have been sold in their entirety for the Crew's Sept. 30 match against the Los Angeles Galaxy and standing-room-only tickets are now available to help accommodate the extraordinary demand for tickets, which is being driven primarily by the anticipated appearance of global superstar 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.
CREW WEARS SPECIAL 'SOCCER AID V' JERSEYS VS. ASTON VILLA, CSF TO AUCTION THEM FOR CHARITY
The Crew sported a Soccer Aid V patch on their jerseys Saturday (July 28) vs. Aston Villa, kicking off the unique annual fund-raising program of the Crew Soccer Foundation that capitalizes on soccer fans' passion for the sport to raise money for charity. Saturday's one-of-a-kind jerseys will be autographed and auctioned off on-line starting Aug. 6 at CrewSoccerFoundation.org and TheCrew.com and the winning bidders will also have the opportunity to experience the thrill of match day at Columbus Crew Stadium on Sept. 8, by playing a 30-minute scrimmage on the field prior to the Crew's game vs. the Chicago Fire. Through its first four years, Soccer Aid has raised more than $25,000 for the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), which is the program's primary beneficiary.
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.
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 continues 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. 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)
Tues., 7/31 Training at Obetz 12:30 p.m. (partial team); Exhibition at Cleveland City Stars, 7 p.m.
Wed., 8/1 Training at Obetz, 11 a.m.
Thur., 8/2 Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Fri., 8/3 Training at Obetz, 1 p.m.; Depart for Chicago
Sat., 8/4 Game at Chicago Fire, TOYOTA Park, 8:30 p.m. (ET),br>
Sun., 8/5 Return from Chicago
Mon., 8/6 OFF
