After a big 2-1 road win over the Philadelphia Union in its first-ever trip to PPL Park last Thursday (Aug. 5), the first-place Crew prepares for another big road test Saturday (Aug. 14) at Real Salt Lake. The last two MLS Cup winners – Columbus in 2008 and RSL last year – will do battle for the second time this season at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Saturday’s match at Rio Tinto Stadium, which kicks off at 9 p.m. (ET), will be televised live regionally on ONN-TV with Dwight Burgess and Dante Washington calling all the action. The game can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN, with Neil Sika behind the microphone, as well as in Spanish on La Mega 103.1-FM, featuring Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.
Salt Lake, which sits second in the Western Conference with a 10-4-6 record (36 points), is coming off a 1-1 draw at Philadelphia on Wednesday (Aug. 11), in which it got its goal from Fabian Espindola. RSL is led offensively by Alvaro Saborio’s eight goals and Javier Morales’ six assists.
The Crew, which remains in first place in the Eastern Conference with an 11-4-4 record (37 pts.) and trails L.A. by just three points in the Supporters’ Shield race,, enters the match after defeating Philadelphia behind a pair of goals from Steven Lenhart. The Black & Gold’s now leads New York – a 1-0 winner over Toronto on Wednesday – by six points in the Eastern Conference standings. Lenhart has scored the Crew’s last three goals.
The Crew won the first game of the season series, 1-0, on April 24 at Crew Stadium. Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored that game’s lone goal.
COLUMBUS CREW at Real Salt Lake
Saturday, Aug. 14 – 9 p.m. (ET) at Rio Tinto Stadium
Regional Television: ONN-TV
Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
LENHART PRODUCES FIRST TWO-GOAL GAME AND MATCHES CAREER-HIGH GOAL TOTAL
Steven Lenhart’s two-goal game at Philadelphia Aug. 5 was the first multi-goal league game of his career and matched his career high of four goals in a season set in 2008. Lenhart did score twice against Toluca of Mexico on March 9 of this year in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal. Lenhart’s first goal vs. Philadelphia was also the 10th of his MLS career.
CREW OPENS CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP PLAY ON AUG. 18
The Crew will open its second straight CONCACAF Champions League campaign in the Group Stage with a home match vs. Municipal of Guatemala on Aug. 18 at Crew Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. and tickets are on sale. The match will also be televised live on FOX Soccer Channel. The Crew qualified for the tournament by winning the 2009 MLS Supporters’ Shield. It advanced to the quarterfinal round in 2009-10. For more information visit TheCrew.com/ChampionsLeague
MLS FUTBOLITO COMES TO COLUMBUS THIS SATURDAY
As the official 4 v 4 tournament of Major League Soccer, MLS ¡Futbolito! brings fast-paced soccer action to 13 communities across the country. The day-long event offers food, music and fun activities for the whole family, all alongside a fierce and fun soccer competition for all ages. Futbolito will be stopping in Columbus this Saturday, August 14, at the Veterans Memorial parking lot (300 W. Broad St) – right across the street from this weekend’s Festival Latino. For more information on the tournament, please visit mlsfutbolito.com.
CREW SOCCER WORKSHOP PRESENTED BY FARMERS INSURANCE SLATED FOR MONDAY, AUG. 16
The Crew Soccer Workshop, Presented by Farmers Insurance, will be held on Monday, Aug. 16, from 5-7:30 p.m. at Rhodes Park (1818 W. Broad St. 43223). Crew coaches will teach boys and girls aged 6-14 the skills, drills and techniques they’ll need on the field of play. In addition, participants will also learn about sportsmanship, effective training techniques and the importance of being a team player. This event is being offered to the community free of charge by Farmers Insurance. To register, or for more information, please visit TheCrew.com/crew-soccer-workshop.
FORMER CREW DEFENDER THOMAS DOOLEY AMONG FOUR INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME PRIOR TO USA-BRAZIL ON WEDNESDAY
The National Soccer Hall of Fame and U.S. Soccer hosted the 2010 Induction Ceremony at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Tuesday (Aug. 10) prior to the USA-Brazil match. The private ceremony was followed by a reception for the new inductees, Hall of Famers, and invited guests. The 2010 Induction Class includes former Crew defender Thomas Dooley and Preki Radosavljevic in the Player category, Bruce Arena as a Builder, and Kyle Rote, Jr., as a Veteran.
FOURTH ANNUAL CREW 5K SET FOR SATURDAY, AUG. 21, AT CREW STADIUM
The Columbus Crew 5K will be held on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 8:30 a.m. at Crew Stadium. All runners will receive a free tech shirt, goody bag and a free ticket to see the Crew take on the Colorado Rapids at home that evening at 7:30 p.m. The Crew 5K Run/Walk course will wind around Columbus Crew Stadium, the Ohio Historical Society and some of the nearby fairground areas, with the finish taking place inside Crew Stadium at midfield. It is a USATF Certified Course. Following the race, there will be music, food, games, Crew Cat and the Crewzers on the Crew Kicker Plaza. Early registration can be completed for $35 or $40 on Race Day. A 1 Mile Kids’ Run will begin at 8 a.m. Race entries, registration, shirts and goodie bags can be picked up at the Columbus Running Company (6465 Perimeter Dr. Dublin, OH 43016) from Aug. 14-20 during regular store hours. Race Day packet pickup and Race Day registration begins at the stadium at 6:30 a.m. To register, or for more information, please visit TheCrew.com/5k.
CREW TO FACE D.C. UNITED IN U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINALS SEPT. 1 AT RFK STADIUM
By virtue of its 2-0 victory over the Harrisburg City Islanders last Wednesday (July 21), D.C. United advanced to face the Crew in the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament. D.C. will host the match at RFK Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Chivas USA and Seattle Sounders FC will meet in the other semifinal. The Crew is in the semis for the first time since winning it all in 2002.
