COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew arrived in Cyprus today, Feb. 24, to begin an eight-day training camp in which the team will play at least four games, including a match-up against Ukrainian power Dynamo Kiev on Saturday, Feb. 25. The team will depart Cyprus for Columbus on March 3.
While in Cyprus, the club will be based in the city of Ayia Napa. The Crew currently has four games scheduled with a fifth possible. Games vs. Zaglebie (Poland) and ENP (Cyprus) are first-team games, the Kiev game is vs. a mixture of first-team and reserve players and the Mordovia (Russia) game is against its reserves. The complete schedule for Cyprus is below.
The Crew will open the 2006 MLS season with consecutive road games, starting with the season opener against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday, April 1, at 8:30 p.m. (ET) at Arrowhead Stadium. The Black & Gold will then head to Colorado to take on the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, April 8, at 9:30 p.m. (ET) at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Columbus opens it home schedule vs. Eastern Conference rival the Chicago Fire on Saturday, April 15, at 4 p.m. (ET) at Columbus Crew Stadium in a nationally televised game on ESPN2.
Fans can become Crew Soccer Nation members by purchasing full-season ticket packages or partial plans, starting as low as $30 for the new Crew 3-Packs. Group tickets are available for all 16 home games as well as a "Put out the Fire" Home Opener Pack for just $60, which includes four midfield tickets. All ticket packages or plans are available through TheCrew.com and 614-447-CREW.
CREW SCHEDULE FOR CYPRUS
All times listed are local Cyprus time.
February
23 - Depart for Cyprus
24 - Arrive in Cyprus
25 - 3:30 pm Game vs. Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine)
26 - 10 am train; 3:30 pm train
27 - 10 am train; 3 pm Game vs. Zaglebie (Poland)
28 - 10 am train; 3 pm Game vs. Mordovia (Russia)
March
1 - 10 am train; 3 pm Game vs. ENP (Cyprus)
2 - 10 am train; Possible game vs. Panas (Armenia)
3 - Depart for Columbus
