COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Crew returns to action on Saturday in Los Angeles, when it will take on Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center. Columbus (5-4-7, 22 pts.) is coming off its fourth victory in five games, 2-0 over Real Salt Lake on Saturday (July 7) at Crew Stadium, and a 0-0 draw at Colorado on July 4. Now unbeaten in its last six matches (4-0-2), the Crew is tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, but just two points behind first-place New York.
Chivas (6-5-3, 21 pts.), third in the Western Conference, also played twice last week, losing 2-0 at Dallas on July 4 and playing to 1-1 draw at New England on Saturday. It remains unbeaten at home, at 5-0-1, the last such team in Major League Soccer this season.
Saturday's match, which kicks off at 10:30 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.
The Crew and Chivas meet for the second and final time this season and for the lone time at The Home Depot Center. The teams played to a 1-1 draw at Crew Stadium on May 12. Columbus returns to L.A. just three weeks after defeating the Galaxy, 3-2, at the HDC on June 23.
In Saturday's match, Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Eddie Gaven scored second-half goals and Will Hesmer backstopped a Crew defense that posted its third straight shutout. Incredibly, the result was just the Crew's second (in 16 games) decided by more than one goal his season. Going into Saturday, 14 of its first 15 matches had been decided by one goal or fewer, with the only exception being the 4-0 loss at New York on May 19. The Crew's unbeaten streak is the club's longest since it rattled off a league-record 19-game unbeaten stretch from July 3, 2004 through April 2, 2005.
COLUMBUS CREW at Chivas USA
Saturday, July 14 - 10:30 p.m. (ET) at The Home Depot Center
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)
FOUNDER'S PARK DEDICATED SATURDAY
The Crew dedicated Founder's Park prior to Saturday's match (July 7), in conjunction with the Hunt family. A memorial tribute to Crew Founder Lamar Hunt, who died in December, Founder's Park replaces Monument Park just south of the Crew Kicker Plaza. It incorporates the existing plaque-on-rock monuments conceived by Mr. Hunt and now features a new layout and landscape design, which was one of his interests. Mr. Hunt's widow, Norma, and two of their sons, Clark and Dan, were in attendance for the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dan Hunt then performed the official coin toss. A fireworks display followed the match - won by the Crew, 2-0 over Real Salt Lake - in honor of Mr. Hunt and Independence Day.
EDDIE GAVEN EARNS FIFTH CAREER CAP FOR U.S. MNT, RETURNS TO SCORE FOR CREW
The Crew's Eddie Gaven earned his fifth career international cap on July 5, as the U.S. National Team fell to Colombia, 1-0, in the final Copa America match for two teams that had both been previously eliminated from advancing to the second round of the 2007 tournament. Despite a heroic penalty kick save by Brad Guzan in the first half and a late red card to the Colombian goalkeeper, the U.S. wasn't able to overcome a 15th minute goal by Jaime Castrillon. At halftime, Gaven made his second appearance of the tournament and the fifth of his career, as the former Under-17 and Under-20 National Team star replaced Hercules Gomez. The change combined with the halftime break sparked life into the U.S., who at times had the better of play in the second half. Gaven put a shot over the cross bar after Justin Mapp served in a cross from the left in the 53rd minute, and later in the 70th minute the U.S. put together on of it's best chances. Gaven had earned his fourth cap June 28 vs. Argentina, coming on in the 62nd minute for Ben Olsen. Gaven returned to Columbus in time for Saturday's game, came on as a substitute in the second half and the Crew's second goal in a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
SZETELA HAS THREE GOALS IN U-20 WORLD CUP HEADING INTO WEDNESDAY'S ROUND OF 16 MATCH
The Crew trio of Robbie Rogers, Danny Szetela and Tim Ward and the rest of the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team will face Uruguay in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup on Wednesday, July 11, in Toronto. Szetela has thee goals in the tournament and Rogers has two assists. The USA-Uruguay Round of 16 match will be televised live on ESPNU and Galavision on Wednesday beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET, and fans follow the match via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker. Uruguay, the third-place team from Group B, advanced to the knockout phase with a 1-1-1 record in group play. They were the only team to get a point from Spain as they tied the European champions, 2-2, in their opening match and then earned a 1-0 victory against Jordan in Burnaby. Uruguay lost their final match to Zambia, 2-0, but their four points was enough to solidify one of the four third-place spots in the second round. The U.S. advanced the second round by winning Group D with an undefeated 2-0-1 record that featured a win over Brazil on Friday, broadcast live on ESPN.
FIFTH ANNUAL COPA VICTORIA TOURNAMENT UNDERWAY 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 resumes 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. Additional tournament match days are scheduled for July 28 and Aug. 4 at the Crew Training Center, which is located at 4153 Alum Creek Drive in Obetz. 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., 7/10: Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Wed., 7/11: Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Thur., 7/12: Training at Obetz, 9 a.m.; Depart for L.A.
Fri., 7/13: Training in L.A. TBD
Sat., 7/14: Game at Chivas USA at the Home Depot Center 10:30 p.m. (ET)
Sun., 7/15: Return from L.A.
