MLS Columbus Crew SC

Top Moments In Crew Stadium History: U.S. vs. Mexico World Cup Qualifier

Published on May 11, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio (Tuesday, May 11) — Throughout this week, leading up to Crew Stadium's Fifth Anniversary Match on Saturday, May 15, The Crew will feature top moments in Columbus Crew Stadium history. Today, a defining moment for Crew Stadium and soccer in the United States is featured – the U.S. vs. Mexico World Cup Qualifier on February 28, 2001.

Soccer fans world-wide can vote for their Top 5 Columbus Crew Stadium moments by logging on to thecrew.com and crewstadium.com to vote. The five finalists, including the top moment, will be unveiled in a video presentation at halftime. The Fifth Anniversary celebration will pit the Black & Gold against the New England Revolution at 4 p.m. in a game which will be televised live nationally on ESPN2.

TODAY'S FEATURED CREW STADIUM MOMENT: U.S. vs. Mexico World Cup Qualifier – February 28, 2001

Crew Stadium, the first major league stadium built specifically for soccer in the U.S., opened on May 15, 1999 when The Crew downed New England, 2-0, before a standing-room-only crowd of 24,741. The opening of Crew Stadium was a signature event for soccer in the U.S. and has helped spawn continued soccer-specific stadium growth in MLS.

In just five short years, Crew Stadium has become a monument for soccer in this country, and played host to a number of high-profile national and international events, including some of the most important soccer matches played in this country. Crew founder Lamar Hunt and family took a major step for soccer in the U.S. by building Crew Stadium. Crew Stadium is a 22,555-seat soccer facility that was constructed in nine months and one day at a cost of $28.5 million.

February 28, 2001 was unlike any other high-profile soccer match that has ever been played in this country. The U.S. Soccer Federation could have played the U.S.-Mexico qualifier at any stadium in the country and it would have sold out, yet they chose to come to Columbus and Crew Stadium, in February. The game was the first game of the 10-game final round qualifying phase and a win against its border rival and fellow CONCACAF giant would put the U.S. on the right path for qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.

With temperatures hovering around 27 degrees at kickoff, the U.S. had already established a psychological edge when Mexico chose not to go outside to warm up before the game. And the U.S. had an unprecedented home-field advantage against Mexico as U.S. fans made up more than 20,000 of the 24,624 fans in attendance. The evening turned even more magical as Josh Wolff tallied a goal and an assist and Earnie Stewart a goal in the 2-0 win. The win put the U.S. on its way to qualifying for the 2002 World Cup, where they would advance to the quarterfinals, and their best finish in 72 years.

"We knew when Crew Stadium was first opened, that it would eventually become a great home-field venue for our U.S. National Teams in World Cup qualifying play, and the best example of that was obviously February 28, 2001," said U.S. Soccer President Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia. "From the cold weather to the fervent atmosphere, the support we received from the crowd in that match is a testament to just how important it is to continue to develop our own facilities for the sport in the United States."

The comments from the U.S. players after the game that evening tell the whole story.

"It was a good win tonight. The guys were excited about coming to Columbus. The stadium is fantastic. The fans were fantastic. This is one of the biggest rivalries that U.S. Soccer has and I'm very proud to be here and very proud to get on top of them 2-0," said Wolff after the match. "To be able to get into a stadium where we are going to have predominantly American fans, I think it is fantastic. Obviously we were able to see the support all night, after the goals and throughout the evening, they were very excited."

"I think the crowd helped us more than the weather did. The crowd was wonderful and everyone did their job today," said Brad Friedel on February 28. "It was nice to come back to this crowd. I think that was a factor in the game. It would be great to play here a lot in the future."

"Obviously we are very happy with the result. In terms of our team I think we could have a played a little bit better and a little bit sharper, but anytime you can get a win, especially with the atmosphere here," said Jeff Agoos at the post-game press conference. "I can't say enough about the people who supported us here in Columbus. Once again it was a great feeling. I think everything was a home-field advantage: the fans, the weather. I think Columbus did a great job putting on the game. Every person on the field and on the bench felt it."

The February 28, 2001 U.S. vs. Mexico World Cup Qualifier will always be a defining moment for Crew Stadium and soccer in the U.S. Tomorrow will feature another top moment in the history of Columbus Crew Stadium.

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