Following its 2-0 setback at FC Dallas on Saturday (July 2), the Crew concludes its two-game road trip with its first visit to Empire Field in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday, July 6, where it will face the expansion Whitecaps for the second time in club history. The Crew has reached the halfway point of the 34-game regular season with a 6-5-6 record (24 pts.), good for third place in the Eastern Conference.
The match will be televised live regionally on ONN starting at 10 p.m. (ET), with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action. The game can be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN and on-line at TheCrew.com, with Neil Sika behind the microphone, and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1, with Carlos Cordova on the call.
The first – and last – time the Crew and Vancouver met, on April 30 at Crew Stadium, the Black & Gold defeated the visitors, 2-1, with Emilio Renteria scoring both goals. This time around the Crew will have to look to Andres Mendoza’s and Tommy Heinemann’s firepower as Renteria is still unavailable with a quad injury.
The Whitecaps (2-8-8, 14 pts) are coming off a 1-0 loss at Toronto FC on June 29 and another 2-1 loss at TFC in the NCC Canadian Nutrilite Championship on Saturday (July 2). Vancouver is led offensively by French forward Eric Hassli, who has tallied six goals in only 13 games. Swiss midfielder Davide Chiumiento leads the team in assists with seven.
The Black & Gold is without Emmanuel Ekpo, who has been excellent in the attacking midfield position, after he received his fifth caution of the season Saturday at Dallas. Andy Iro (red card) and Rich Balchan (groin injury) are also unavailable for this match.
Following a bye weekend, the Crew returns home to host the San Jose Earthquakes at Crew Stadium on July 16 at 7:30 p.m.
COLUMBUS CREW at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Wednesday, July 6 – 10 p.m. (ET) – Empire Field, Vancouver, B.C.
National Television: N/A; Regional Television: ONN
Crew Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com (English)
DANNY O’ROURKE RETURNS FROM DL, MAKES FIRST LEAGUE APPEARANCE OF SEASON SATURDAY
Danny O’Rourke returned from the disabled list to make his first appearance of the season on Saturday (July 2) at Dallas, entering the game in the 69th minute in place of Rich Balchan who came off with a groin strain. O’Rourke had previously seen his first competitive action in the Crew’s U.S. Open Cup match on June 28, but Saturday was his first league appearance since Sept. 18, 2010 vs. Seattle. He ultimately underwent knee surgery in November.
McBRIDE TO BE INDUCTED INTO CREW’S CIRCLE OF HONOR JULY 16, ON HEELS OF THREE-DAY CAMPS IN MARKET
The Crew has partnered with club icon Brian McBride and his Attacking Soccer Academy on a pair of camps in Columbus from July 14-16. Two separate three-day camps will be offered for boys ages 13-18 and girls ages 13-16 at the Value City Fields at Easton. McBride will then be inducted into the club’s new Circle of Honor – the first such honoree – at halftime of the July 16 game vs. San Jose, in recognition of his many contributions to the Crew. McBride was the first player selected by the Crew (and overall) in the 1996 Inaugural MLS Draft, and he went on to put together a transcendent eight-year career in Black & Gold, followed by nearly five high-scoring years with Fulham FC of the English Premier League. He concluded his career with the Chicago Fire in 2010 and founded McBride Attacking Soccer Academy. For more information on the McBride camps and to register, CLICK HERE.
CREW JUNIORS SUPER 20s WIN TWICE, ON VERGE OF QUALIFICATION FOR USL SUPER 20 FINALS
The Crew Juniors Super 20s continued their march toward a repeat trip to the USL Super 20 League Finals with a pair of convincing victories in the past week. First they topped Alliance Academy, 5-0, at Bowling Green on July 1, then followed that up with another 5-0 decision over Blast FC Tuesday (July 5) at Obetz. In the latter game, Matt Walker scored twice and Peter Paras, Ben Speas and Brian McGue all added a goal apiece. The CJ 20s close out the regular season this Thursday (July 7) at Obetz against the Dayton Dutch Lions having already virtually qualified for the upcoming league finals tournament in Tampa.
TICKETS FOR JULY 26 NEWCASTLE MATCH STILL AVAILABLE
Tickets to the Crew’s international exhibition vs. Newcastle United FC of the English Premier League on Tuesday, July 26, are still available. Individual advance ticket prices start at $24 and fans can find tickets at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 1-800-745-3000 and on-line at TheCrew.com.
CREW PICK 3-PACKS OFFER DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO CREW FANS AT LOW PRICES
There’s a Crew Pick 3-Pack perfect for every fan. Starting at only $22 per game, which is a $15 savings off the day-of-game price, fans can choose between the Crew Premier Game 3-Pack, or Crew $1 Beer/Brat 3-Pack all with different advantageous offers. To order CLICK HERE.
CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC TO BE HELD ON SEPT. 19
The Crew Soccer Foundation will hold its Golf Classic at Heritage Golf Club on Sept. 19. Participants will have a chance to test their skills against Crew players on a challenging and beautiful course designed by famed architect P.B. Dye. A variety of single and foursome packages are available, including a VIP foursome package which will allow participants to play with a Crew player (subject to availability). To register for the Crew Soccer Foundation Golf Classic, visit www.thecrew.com/golf.
MLS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE RICH BALCHAN ON CREWXTRA THIS WEDNESDAY
CrewXtra, the weekly show on ONN Wednesdays at 8, 8:30, 11 and 11:30 p.m., this week will feature versatile Crew midfielder/defender Rich Balchan, a leading candidate for MLS Rookie of the Year honors, alongside Crew TV analyst Duncan Oughton, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch, and host Beau Bishop, as they discuss last week’s match at Dallas and the game at Vancouver later that night.
