COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Crew returns to action on Wednesday at Colorado, when it will take on the Rapids in an Independence Day affair at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Columbus (4-4-6, 18 pts.) is coming off its third straight victory, 1-0 over New York on Saturday (June 30) at Crew Stadium, and it is now unbeaten in its last four matches (3-0-1). The Crew is fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and in sole possession of what would be the eighth and final playoff position. Colorado (4-7-4, 16 pts.) played twice last week, losing 4-1 at D.C. on June 28 and playing to a scoreless draw Sunday at Chicago.
Wednesday's match, which kicks off at 9:30 p.m. (ET), will be televised live locally on ONN, with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott calling all the action and Katie Witham reporting from the sidelines. 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.
The Crew and Rapids meet for the first time this season and for the lone time at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, which will play hot to the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star on Thursday, July 19. The teams will meet at Crew Stadium on Sept. 2.
In Saturday's match, Crew forward Andy Herron returned to action after missing the previous three games due to a left hip injury, coming on as a sub in the 67th minute for Jacob Thomas, who was himself making his 2007 regular-season debut. Herron's re-entry into the line-up was a dramatic one, as just two minutes after coming on, his lofted service into the area was headed home by Kei Kamara for the game-winning goal. Thomas started after being sidelined for the first 13 games of the season due to a left calf injury and his dynamic presence sparked the Crew attack.
COLUMBUS CREW at Colorado Rapids
Wednesday, July 4 - 9:30 p.m. (ET) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park
National Television: N/A; Local Television: ONN
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
CREW TO HOST REAL SALT LAKE, DEDICATE FOUNDER'S PARK, PRESENT FIREWORKS SATURDAY
The Crew travels back from Colorado on Thursday and returns to action Saturday, when it will play host to Real Salt Lake. The match, which kicks off at 7:30 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 and John Bluem 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. The Crew and RSL meet for the second and final time this season and for the first time at Crew Stadium. The teams played to a 0-0 tie in Salt Lake City on April 14.
The Crew will also dedicate Founder's Park prior to the match, 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 Hunt and now features a new layout and landscape design, which was one of his interests. Members of the Hunt family will be in attendance for the dedication, which will begin with a ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the ceremony, as well, and those that do will receive a commemorative coin bearing Mr. Hunt's likeness (while supplies last). A fireworks display will follow the game in honor of Mr. Hunt and Independence Day.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. Real Salt Lake
Saturday, July 7 - 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium
National Television: N/A; Local Television: CSN
Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); Radio Sol WXOL 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
EDDIE GAVEN EARNS FOURTH CAREER CAP FOR U.S. MNT
Crew midfielder Eddie Gaven earned his fourth career international cap June 28, coming on in the 62nd minute for Ben Olsen, as a young U.S. Men's National Team played an inspired match against Argentina, taking an early lead but eventually falling 4-1 to the South American side in their opening match of the 2007 Copa America. Gaven is the team's youngest player at 20 years old. The loss for the USA marked their first defeat in more than year, ending the team's 10-0-1 run in 2007 under Bradley. The U.S. continued Group C action against Paraguay on Tuesday and will finish group play against Colombia on July 5. All games are being broadcast live on GolTV and Telefutura, and fans can also follow the action on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.
SZETELA TALLIES LONE U.S. GOAL IN U-20 WORLD CUP OPENER
The U.S. Under-20 Men's National team opened their FIFA Under-20 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against South Korea in Group D play on Saturday, June 30. And Crew midfielder Danny Szetela opened the scoring for the U.S. in spectacular fashion, on a diving header the 16th minute, but South Korea eventually tallied the equalizing goal in the 38th minute. Szetela's Crew teammates Robbie Rogers and Tim Ward also made the start for the U.S. national side and went the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 tie. The United States plays its second game in Group D against Poland today. The Americans will then conclude group play on Friday, July 6, against Brazil at 7:45 p.m. ET. Fans can follow the matches live on ESPNU, Galavision and ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.
CREW HONORS ROSS PAULE PRIOR TO JUNE 30 GAME
The Crew welcomed back former midfielder Ross Paule on June 30 and recognized him at a pregame ceremony for his service to the club and many contributions and accomplishments in Black & Gold. Paule, who was presented with a framed jersey, spent two active seasons with the Crew (2003-04) and a third trying to come back from the concussions that would ultimately end his career prematurely in 2005. The club's MVP in 2003 and a vital cog in the 2004 Supporters Shield-winning team, he appeared in 50 games for the Crew and tallied 11 goals and nine assists.
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 14, 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)
Wed., 7/4: Game at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. (ET)
Thur., 7/5: Return from Colorado
Fri., 7/6: Training at Obetz, 10 a.m.
Sat., 7/7: Game vs. Salt Lake at Crew Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Sun., 7/8: OFF
Mon., 7/9: OFF
