The Crew begins a busy two-game week on Thursday, Oct. 21, as it travels to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to face Joe Public in the final CONCACAF Champions League group stage match. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. and will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel.
The Crew has already clinched a spot in the quarterfinal round of the tournament, thanks to Santos Laguna’s 6-1 drubbing of Municipal on Tuesday, Oct. 19. The result gives Santos Laguna first place in Group B, while the Crew will finish second regardless of the result on Thursday night. In its last CCL match, the Black & Gold suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Municipal in Guatemala City on Sept. 29. Joe Public’s last CCL outing was a 5-1 loss against Santos in Mexico.
The Black & Gold will then return to MLS play just three days later, with the 2010 regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday. Oct. 24, at Crew Stadium. That match, which kicks off at 4 p.m. ET, will be televised live regionally on ONN-TV, with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott calling all the action and Katie Witham reporting from the sidelines. It can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN, with Neil Sika and John Bluem behind the microphone, as well as in Spanish on La Mega 103.1-FM, featuring Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.
Philadelphia ended its regular-season home schedule on a high note by defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-0 on Saturday, Oct. 16, bringing its record to 8-14-7 (31 pts.). In their first meeting this season, forward Steven Lenhart scored twice to come away from PPL Park with a 2-1 victory on Aug. 5. The Union features two members of the Crew's 2008 MLS Cup championship squad, forward Alejandro Moreno and midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi.
The Crew is coming off a thrilling 2-2 draw at BMO Field in Toronto on Saturday, thanks to a stoppage time goal by goalkeeper William Hesmer on Oct. 16. The Black & Gold sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 13-8-8 (47 pts.). A win by the Crew paired with a loss or tie by the New York Red Bulls (14-9-6, 48 pts.), who host the New England Revolution on Thursday, Oct. 21, would put the Black & Gold in first place in the Eastern Conference and guarantee home field advantage through the conference championship match. A New York loss on Thursday would allow the Crew to finish first with a tie or a win on Sunday.
COLUMBUS CREW at JOE PUBLIC
CONCACAF Champions League, Group B, Round 6
Thursday, Oct. 21 – 8 p.m. – Marvin Lee Stadium, Trinidad and Tobago
National Television: FSC -- Radio: None
COLUMBUS CREW vs. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Sunday, Oct 24 – 4 p.m. – Crew Stadium
Regional Television: ONN-TV
Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English), La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
SUNDAY IS FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT
Sunday afternoon’s match against the Philadelphia Union is fan appreciation night and fans in attendance will receive Crew themed Silly Bandz, while supplies last. In addition, the Crew will hold a Postgame On-Field Kick and Postgame Autograph Alley. This is the first time this year that both events happen on the same game-day and youth fans will not only have an opportunity to take a shot on goal on the field, but also get autographs from their favorite Crew players, including Eddie Gaven, Jason Garey and Emilio Renteria (players subject to change). All fans in attendance will also have a chance to enter to win a jersey off the back of a Crew player on the field after the game. Click here for more information.
WILLIAM HESMER CELEBRATES 100th MLS REGULAR SEASON MATCH WITH GOAL
Crew goalkeeper William Hesmer celebrated two milestones on Saturday, in the match against Toronto FC. Hesmer played his 100th MLS match and scored his first MLS goal. The Crew goalie made his MLS debut for the Kansas City Wizards on June 10, 2006 in 1-0 win over the Columbus Crew. Since then Hesmer has made 323 saves on 445 shots faced with a GAA of 1.17 and a total of 34 shutouts. His goal, off an Eddie Gaven corner kick redirected by Chad Marshall's head, was only the second tally by a goalkeeper in MLS History. New York's Danny Cepero scored the first in 2008. Hesmer’s has deservedly been nominated for MLS Goal and Save of the Week. Log on to TheCrew.com and click on the Goal or Save of the Week pictures to vote for Hesmer’s accomplishments or track their progress.
CREW HOSTS ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY AND CASINO NIGHT ON MONDAY, OCT. 25
The Crew will hold its 2010 Team Awards Ceremony, presented by Adidas, on Monday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m. at Lifestyles Community Pavilion. This year’s festivities will once again feature a “Casino Night” benefiting the Crew Soccer Foundation for attendees immediately following the Awards Ceremony. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the Awards Ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. and a variety of casino games to follow. The following awards will be presented during the ceremony: Glidden Man of the Year, OhioHealth Comeback Player of the Year, Goal of the Year, Crew Most Valuable Player, Budweiser Golden Boot, MLS WORKS/U.S. Soccer Foundation Humanitarian of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, CSF Crew Chiefs Hardest Working Man, Defender of the Year, Coaches Award, Crew Fan of the Year and the Fans’ Choice Award, which fans voted on at TheCrew.com, as well as the Crew Soccer Academy U20, U18 and U16 Player of the Year. Gold Level Crew Soccer Nation members will be admitted free of charge. The general public can purchase tickets for $15 in advance or $20 at the door. A VIP package is available for $100. Package includes private pre-event reception with members of the team (includes hot hors d’ouevres and beverages), priority seating during the ceremony and an autographed framed 2010 Team poster. All proceeds will benefit the Crew Soccer Foundation, the charitable arm of the Columbus Crew. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
CREW FINISHES SECOND IN CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP B, QUALIFIES FOR QUARTERFINALS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR
The Crew is guaranteed to finish second in Group B of the CONCACAF Champions League tournament with one game left to play. On Tuesday (Oct. 19) Santos Laguna defeated Municipal 6-1 eliminating the Guatemalan champions from the tournament. The result gives Santos Laguna first place in the standings while the Crew qualifies for the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year by finishing second. The Crew still has one match to play, on Thursday (Oct. 21) at Joe Public in Trinidad and Tobago, but the result will not affect the standings. More info
‘SOCCER AID VIII’ AUCTIONS CONTINUE
Soccer Aid VIII auctions of unique and rare Crew jerseys continue online HERE. Soccer Aid is a unique, fund-raising program of the Crew Soccer Foundation that capitalizes on soccer fans’ passion for the sport to raise money for charity through the non-profit arm of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, including its primary beneficiary, the Mid-Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Through its first seven years, Soccer Aid has raised more than $35,000 for JDRF. This year the jerseys reflect a historic theme, in celebration of the club’s 15th anniversary season.
PLAYOFF PACKAGES ARE ON SALE NOW, INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY
The Crew clinched its third consecutive playoff berth last Saturday, Oct. 2, and two-game playoff ticket packages are on sale now. Each package includes both of the Crew’s potential playoff games – the one guaranteed game in the first round and the Eastern Conference Championship it could host if it advances out of the first round – along with a commemorative scarf. The design of this year’s scarf was selected through fan voting at TheCrew.com. Individual playoff game tickets will go on sale Thursday, Oct. 21 and, as with playoff packages, will be available at the Crew Stadium Box Office and all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 800-745-3000 and on-line at TheCrew.com/playoffs and Ticketmaster.com.
MARK McCULLERS ON CREWXTRA THIS WEDNESDAY AT 8 AND 11 P.M. ON ONN-TV
This week on CrewXtra, the Crew’s weekly show on ONN-TV, host Beau Bishop will be joined by Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers, the "Voice of the Crew," Dwight Burgess and Dispatch beat writer Shawn Mitchell at 8 and 11 p.m. CrewXtra is broadcast every Wednesday and provides viewers with in-depth coverage and access to the team every week, including game recaps, breakdowns and previews of the upcoming matches, while interspersing other news, interviews, discussion and features.
