COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Crew travels to the nation's capitol this weekend for its final match of the 2007 regular season, where it will take on D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium. Columbus (8-11-10, 34 pts.) enters Saturday's match off a thrilling 3-2 comeback at New England on Saturday at Gillette Stadium, in which Eddie Gaven, Stefani Miglioranzi and Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored second-half goals to overcome a halftime deficit.
Schelotto, who volleyed home the game-winner in the 86th minute after coming on as a substitute at halftime, was named MLS Player of the Week in recognition of his dazzling performance. And the Miglioranzi and Schelotto goals were both finalists for Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week honors.
This Saturday's match, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (ET), will be televised live locally on ONN, with Bill McDermott and Dante Washington calling all the action and Katie Witham reporting from the sidelines. The Crew will host a viewing party in Crew Stadium's Huntington Club, for which doors will open at 7 p.m. 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 "La Que Buena" WDLR 1550-AM.
The Crew and D.C. United meet for the third and final time this season and the only time at RFK Stadium. The last time the two teams met, United got goals from Fred and MLS goal-scoring leader Luciano Emilio in a 2-0 win at Crew Stadium Aug. 18 before a crowd of 21,639.
United (16-6-7, 55 pts.), which is coming off a 0-0 draw with Chicago that eliminated the Crew from playoff contention on Saturday, has clinched its second straight Supporters' Shield for the top regular-season record.
COLUMBUS CREW at D.C. United
Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) at RFK Stadium
National Television: N/A; Local Television: ONN
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); WDLR 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
GAVEN SCORES 25th GOAL OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Midfielder/forward Eddie Gaven scored the Crew's first goal of the game in Saturday's 3-2 victory at New England, giving him his fifth tally of the season and the 25th of his professional career. Gaven, in his fifth MLS campaign, also has six assists on the season, which is tied for second on the squad. Gaven, who turned professional at the age of 16 and was selected to the All-Star Game and MLS Best XI in 2004, became the youngest player (19 years, 252 days) to score for the Crew when he notched a goal for the Black & Gold on July 4, 2006. Gaven was acquired by Columbus from New York on March 28, 2006.
MORENO TO LEAD MLS IN FOULS SUFFERED FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEASON - BY WIDE MARGIN
Crew forwards Alejandro Moreno and Guillermo Barros Schelotto rank first and second in MLS, respectively, in fouls suffered for the 2007 season. Moreno (89 fouls, 28 appearances) leads his closest competitor, Schelotto (64 fouls, 21 appearances), by an astounding 25 fouls suffered. With just one match remaining in the regular season, there is no question that Moreno will lead MLS in fouls suffered for the third consecutive season.
O'ROURKE, HESMER TO VISIT WHITEHALL FITNESS AND PREPARATORY ACADEMY WEDNESDAY
Crew midfielder Danny O'Rourke and goalkeeper Will Hesmer are scheduled to discuss teamwork and the importance of being a good sport at an assembly at the Whitehall Fitness and Preparatory Academy (3474 E. Livingston Avenue, 43227) on Wednesday (Oct. 17) from 2-3 p.m.
CREW ATTENDANCE AVERAGES MORE THAN 20,000 OVER LAST FIVE HOME GAMES IN 2007
Over the last five home games of the 2007 regular season, Crew attendance averaged 20,295. The impressive run at the gate started on Aug. 18, when 21,639 filled Crew Stadium for the Black & Gold's game vs. D.C. United. That was followed by crowds of 16,036 on Sept. 2; 19,983 on Sept. 8; 24,300 on Sept. 30; and 19,517 on Oct. 6.
FIFA POSTPONES NEW ZEALAND VS. FIJI WORLD CUP QUALIFIER SCHEDULED FOR OCT. 13
Duncan Oughton and his New Zealand Men's National Team saw their World Cup qualifying match against Fiji scheduled for last Saturday (Oct. 13) postponed due to a controversy involving the visa of Fiji's starting goalkeeper. On Friday, FIFA, soccer's global governing body, called off the match after the Wellington government refused a visa for Simione Tamanisau because the government said his father-in-law was involved in Fiji's military forces. New Zealand has introduced a ban on travel there by members of the Fijian military and their families following last December's coup which toppled the South Pacific nation's elected government. A new date and time have yet to be determined for the postponed match. The two countries are still scheduled to play the return leg of the match in Lautoka, Fiji, on Wednesday (Oct. 17). Saturday's match would have been the first in the qualifying series between New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
PACHECO RECALLED BY TRINIDAD & TOBAGO MNT FOR WEDNESDAY'S EL SALVADOR FRIENDLY
Crew defender Andrei Pacheco has been called up by the Trinidad & Tobago Men's National Team for its international friendly in El Salvador on Wednesday (Oct. 17). Pacheco was a member of the T&T team that won its group in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Chicago this past June.
CREW TO HOST ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY AND CASINO NIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24
The Columbus Crew will hold its 2007 Team Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, October 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Lifestyles Community Pavilion. This year's festivities will feature a new twist, as the Crew will host a "Casino Night" for attendees immediately following the Awards Ceremony. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the Awards Ceremony beginning at 7:00 p.m. and a variety of casino games to follow. The following season awards will be presented during the ceremony: Huntington Man of the Year, OhioHealth Comeback Player of the Year, Sierra Mist Goal of the Year, Honda MVP, Budweiser Golden Boot, U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, CSF Crew Chiefs Hardest Working Player, Defender of the Year, Coaches Award, Fan's Choice Award and Crew Fan of the Year. Gold Level Crew Soccer Nation members will be admitted free of charge. The general public can purchase tickets for $10 in advance or $15 at the door. All proceeds will benefit the Crew Soccer Foundation, the charitable arm of the Columbus Crew.
CREW TO HOLD OPEN TRYOUTS OVER THE WINTER IN SACRAMENTO AND CLEVELAND
The Crew will host two sets of open tryouts for the 2008 season, the first being held in Sacramento, Calif., at Larchmont Park on December 8-9 and the second at Krenzler Field on the campus of Cleveland State University on January 25-26. Tryouts will be open to all players regardless of age, with the lone exception being that college players with any eligibility remaining are not allowed to participate due to NCAA rules and regulations. Players should plan on attending both sessions at their chosen tryout location in order to have the coaching staff properly evaluate their skills. Individuals are responsible for their own food, accommodations and transportation. There will be a registration fee of $100 that should be paid at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the selected tryout. Potential prospects can visit www.TheCrew.com to register for either of the two tryout locations and for more details.
CREW TRAINING AND GAME SCHEDULE
(Media availability at the conclusion of training; All times listed Eastern Time)
Wed., 10/17:
Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Thur., 10/18:
Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Fri., 10/19:
Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.; Depart for D.C. p.m.
Sat., 10/20:
Game at D.C. United at RFK Stadium, 7:30 p.m. (ONN)
Sun., 10/21:
Return from D.C.
Mon., 10/22:
OFF
