On the heels of its historic 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday (July 30) – which moved it into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference – the Crew (9-6-7, 34 pts.) travels to Denver to face the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids before a national television audience on Friday at Dick Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
The match, which kicks off at 9:30 p.m. (ET), will be televised live nationally on Fox Soccer with JP Dellacamera and Kyle Martino calling all the action and Brian Dunseth reporting from the sidelines. The game can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN and on-line at TheCrew.com, with Neil Sika behind the microphone. Carlos Cordova will provide the call in Spanish on La Mega 103.1.
Both teams had a very busy schedule in July, with the Crew going 3-2-1 in six games and the Rapids going 3-1-3 in seven league matches. Of particular note is the fact that both teams are coming off important wins, as the Rapids defeated the Philadelphia Union 2-1 on Friday (July 29) and the Black & Gold won for the first time ever at Rio Tinto (handing RSL just its second loss there in some 40 games).
The Rapids (8-6-10, 34 pts.) sit in fourth place in the Western Conference and are led offensively by the duo of Conor Casey (six goals) and Omar Cummings (six assists). Casey, however, suffered a season-ending injury (torn achilles) on July 16 in Seattle and will not be available for Friday’s match.
The Crew’s all-time record against the Rapids is 11-15-8 with the last match being a 4-1 win at Crew Stadium on June 26, on the strength of two goals from Andres Mendoza. In the last regular-season meeting at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, on June 5 of last year, the Rapids bested the Black & Gold, 1-0, behind a goal from defender Drew Moor.
The teams went on to meet in the Eastern Conference Semifinals where the Crew lost 1-0 in Colorado before defeating the Rapids 2-1 in the return leg of the ECS behind goals from Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers. The latter match forced overtime and a penalty shootout, which the Rapids won to advance. They ultimately defeated FC Dallas in MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto last November.
The Black & Gold returns home to host the New England Revolution on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium. Then, on Saturday Aug. 20, The Crew will host another Eastern Conference foe when the Philadelphia Union visits Columbus at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will be televised regionally on ONN and in HD for Time Warner Cable Mid-Ohio customers on channel 1311.
COLUMBUS CREW at Colorado Rapids
Friday, August 5 – 9:30 p.m. (ET) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
National Television: Fox Soccer
Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)
Crew Webcast: TheCrew.com (English)
CREW PUB TOUR PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER CONTINUES FRIDAY AT 4TH STREET BAR AND GRILL
Join your fellow fans at the Crew Union’s home establishment, 4th Street Bar and Grill (1810 N. 4th Street, Columbus, 43201), to cheer on the Crew as it takes the Colorado Rapids this Friday, August 5, at 9:30 p.m. There will be, drink specials prizes and giveaways including a chance to win tickets to future Crew home games.
GRAND RAPIDS CREW JUNIORS U17s WIN USYS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Grand Rapids Crew Juniors Under-17 team capped its fourth straight trip to the USYS National Championships with the tournament trophy at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix, Ariz., over the weekend. The Crew’s Southwest Michigan-based affiliate defeated Penn Fusion Celtic in a penalty shootout in the championship match on Sunday (July 31). Sean Conerty scored a tournament-high four goals including one in the 1-1 championship match draw. The team won its round-robin group with a 2-0-1 record by defeating Florida Rush 4-0 (July 27, goals by Jason Stacy (2), Joe Sweet and Andrew Lewis), the Dallas Texans 4-1 (July 28, Greg Timmer, Sean Conerty (2) and an own goal), and drawing Penn Fusion 1-1 (July 29, Conerty).
CREW JUNIORS U17s AND U15s WRAP UP GENERATION ADIDAS CUP IN FRISCO, TEXAS
The Crew Juniors U17 and U15 teams competed in the 2011 Generation adidas Cup in Frisco, Texas, last week. The Generation adidas Cup was competed in those two age groups amongst youth teams of MLS clubs. The U17s finished with a record of 1-2-1, after losing to D.C. United, 5-3, defeating San Jose, 1-0, tying Houston, 0-0 (losing in penalty kicks) and losing to Real Salt Lake, 4-2, in their final match of the tournament. The U15s went 1-2-1, with a 2-0 win over D.C. United, losses to FC Dallas (4-0) and Chivas USA (2-0) and a 4-4 draw against the LA Galaxy, which eventually defeated the Crew Juniors in penalties.
EKPO AND JAMES EARN INTERNATIONAL CALL-UPS
Midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo and defender Julius James have been called into their respective national teams for friendly matches to take place during the next FIFA international window next week. Ekpo, who was a member of Nigeria’s silver medal-winning squad at the 2008 Olympics, will join the senior national team for the first time when it faces Ghana in Watford, England on Aug. 9. James’ Trinidad & Tobago was scheduled to face Haiti in Port-au-Prince on Aug. 10 but the match was cancelled due to lack of funding. Ekpo is expected to return to Columbus in time for the Crew’s match against New England on Aug. 13.
CREW CELEBRITY BARTENDER NIGHT AT 4th STREET BAR AND GRILL ON AUG. 10
Join Budweiser, 97.1 The Fan and the Crew on Wednesday, Aug. 10, from 7-9 p.m. at 4th Street Bar and Grill (1810 N. 4th Street, Columbus, 43201). Columbus Crew stars Jeff Cunningham, Andy Gruenebaum and Justin Meram will take part as celebrity bartenders for the evening, serving your favorite Budweiser products. Scott Torgerson, co-host of “Common Man and The Torg,” will emcee the event. All tips raised for the evening will benefit the Crew Soccer Foundation.
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 <http://www.thecrew.com/golf> .
CREW GOALKEEPER ANDY GRUENEBAUM 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 Andy Gruenebaum, alongside the Crew radio man Neil Sika, Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch, and host Beau Bishop, as they discuss last week’s historic win in Rio Tinto Stadium and the upcoming match at Colorado.
