MLS Columbus Crew SC

Playoff-bound Crew aims to 'Black Out the Galaxy' Saturday

Published on October 1, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - On the heels of its gutsy 1-0 victory over New England in the pouring rain last Saturday (Sept. 27), the first-place Crew returns home to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy this Saturday at Crew Stadium, when fans are encouraged to wear black to the game. The Crew (15-6-5, 50 pts.) heads into Saturday's match having already secured a spot in the 2008 MLS Playoffs - and established a club record for points in a season - while the Galaxy (7-11-8, 29 pts.) looks to keeps its playoff hopes alive at first-of-its-kind Crew Stadium, where the Black & Gold is an impressive 9-2-2 this season.

A limited number of tickets - through two-packs that also include the Oct. 26 regular-season finale - are still available for Saturday's match, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (call 614-447-CREW for information). It will be televised live nationally, on HDNet, and locally on ONN, with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott calling all the action and Katie Witham providing sideline coverage. The game can also be heard in English on The Brew @ 105.7 (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE) and on-line at theCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Neil Sika and John Bluem behind the microphone, as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM, with Eduardo Carvacho and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.

With the help of its fans - and Gov. Ted Strickland, who is scheduled to be in attendance to conduct the pregame ceremonial coin toss - the Crew will be aiming to "Black Out" David Beckham, Landon Donovan and the Los Angeles Galaxy in a match-up between two of MLS' highest-scoring clubs. The Crew has scored 45 goals and will look to add to that total as it makes its push for the 2008 Supporters Shield, while the Galaxy has tallied a league-high 50 goals. Fans attending the nearly sold-out game against the Galaxy are encouraged to show their support for the Black & Gold by wearing black attire to Crew Stadium that night. In addition, fans will receive 'Black Out the Galaxy' Fan Scrolls, presented by OhioHealth, while supplies last. The "Black Out" is intended as a rallying point for Crew fans in attendance, while also providing an electric atmosphere for a match that promises to be an exciting, up-tempo affair.

Los Angeles enters Saturday's match after falling to the Chicago Fire, 3-1, last Thursday (Sept. 25), despite an Eddie Lewis goal. The Galaxy is scheduled to bring a potent attacking trio to Columbus Saturday, in Beckham, the English icon; Donovan, the U.S. National Team star and league-leading scorer; and striker Edson Buddle, the former Crew star, who is having a standout season. Former U.S. National Team head coach Bruce Arena, recently appointed L.A.'s general manager and head coach, will lead the Galaxy's efforts.

The Crew's win over New England at Gillette Stadium on Saturday extended its unbeaten streak to seven games (6-0-1). Defender of the Year candidate Chad Marshall scored the only goal of the game in the 35th minute from a Robbie Rogers corner kick as the Crew extended its lead atop the Eastern Conference to eight, ahead of the second-place Revolution, despite Frankie Hejduk's red card in the 65th minute after receiving his second caution of the match. As a result, Hejduk will be forced to serve a one-game suspension on Saturday, along with Coach of the Year candidate Sigi Schmid, who was also ejected late in Saturday's game at New England.

Saturday's match will be the second and final regular season between the two sides this season. In the first meeting, a 3-3 draw at the Home Depot Center, the Crew scored three goals in the second half to earn the draw, including a Steven Lenhart equalizer just moments before the final whistle after a scramble in front of the goal. Brad Evans scored in the 67th minute to get the Crew its first goal on the evening, and Guillermo Barros Schelotto brought the score even at 2-2, thanks to his penalty kick goal in the 71st minute. Landon Donovan had two goals for L.A., including a penalty kick in the 83rd minute that appeared to give the Galaxy a late match-winner, while Edson Buddle also scored for the hosts.

COLUMBUS CREW vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

Saturday, Oct. 4 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium

National Television: HDNet; Local Television: ONN

Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English); La Que Buena 1550-AM (Spanish)

Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com; MLSNet.com (English)

IMPORTANT TRAFFIC, PARKING INFORMATION FOR SATURDAY

Due to the start of the American Quarter Horse Congress, the world's largest single-breed horse show, increased traffic is expected in and around Crew Stadium and the Ohio Fairgrounds. As a result, the Crew will be using the Ohio Historical Society parking lot for ancillary parking and will even park guests south of 17th Avenue if necessary. The Crew has asked fans to please plan to arrive early to Columbus Crew Stadium and if they have a season parking pass (VIP, East or West Preferred), please use Hudson St. (Exit 112); If paying cash, fans are asked to use 17th Ave. (Exit 111). All attempts are being made to keep traffic patterns the same, but due to the reduced number of parking spaces available, fans should expect the traffic patterns to operate slower than normal coming to the stadium as well as leaving after the game. Gates will open earlier than normal at 5:30 p.m. and the Crew will have additional pre-game entertainment opportunities for fans and their families. After the game, the Crew will also be showing the second half of the OSU vs. Wisconsin game on the stadium video board.

PLAYOFF TICKETS GO ON SALE TO GENERAL PUBLIC SATURDAY

Two-game Crew playoff ticket strips will go on sale to the general public this Saturday, Oct. 4, at 10 a.m. at the Crew Stadium Box Office and all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 614-431-3600 and on-line at TheCrew.com and Ticketmaster.com. Each strip includes both of the Crew's potential playoff games - the one guaranteed game in the first round and the Eastern Conference Final, which it would host if it advances out of the first round as the higher seed. Prices range from $34-$70 for adults and $26-$50 for students. Crew Soccer Nation members previously received an exclusive presale offer to secure their season seats. Playoff pairings, dates and times have not been determined yet, as the Crew is the lone club to have clinched a berth, to date.

CSF Sports Memorabilia Auction/Raffle SET FOR THIS SATURDAY'S MATCH VS. L.A.

The Crew Soccer Foundation, the Crew's charitable arm, is holding its second annual Sports Memorabilia Auction and Raffle in the southwest corner of the Stadium Club before and during the Crew's match this Saturday vs. the Los Angeles Galaxy. More than 80 unique collectibles will be available from stars throughout the sports world, with all proceeds supporting Crew Soccer Foundation programming for central Ohio youth and families including the Referee Scholarship Program, Kicks for Kids, inner-city soccer field development and the GOALS for KIDS handbook curriculum.

CREW SETS NEW CLUB RECORD FOR MOST POINTS IN A SEASON

Thanks to its win over New England last Saturday (Sept. 27), the Crew now has 50 points, a new club record for points in a season, which surpasses the 2004 Supporters Shield-winning squad that earned 49 points. The 2008 squad is now also tied for second-most wins in club history (1996, 1997 and 1998), and trails only the 1999 Crew squad (19 wins, with six coming via shootout) for most wins in club history. It also extended the club record for wins in the post-shootout-era, which it set on Sept. 18 against New York. In addition, MLS Coach of the Year candidate Sigi Schmid is just one victory shy of his career-high 16 wins in a season, established by his 2002 MLS Cup-champion Galaxy team.

CREW UNBEATEN WHEN PADULA MANS LEFT SIDE OF BACKLINE

Veteran Argentine defender Gino Padula signed with the Crew on March 24 after previous successful stints in Argentina, Spain and England. Padula made his Crew debut in a win at home on April 12 vs. Chivas USA and started two more games, both Crew wins, for the Black & Gold before going down with hamstring and knee injuries that sidelined him for several months. Since Padula returned to the starting lineup on Aug. 16 the Crew has compiled an unbeaten record of 6-0-1, bringing the Crew's record when Padula is in the lineup to an impressive 9-0-1 this season.

HESMER RECORDS EIGHTH SHUTOUT OF SEASON

Goalkeeper William Hesmer earned his eighth shutout of the season in the Crew's 1-0 win over the Revs last Saturday (Sept. 27), extending his career season-high and moving him into a third place tie for most shutouts in MLS in 2008. Thanks to the Crew's stellar defensive play of late, Hesmer has moved up the league's goals-against-average rankings, as he currently sits in third place with a 1.19 GAA. He also now holds a 72.5 save percentage, good for fourth place among MLS goalkeepers.

CREW PLAYERS AMONG LEAGUE STATISTICAL LEADERS

Several Crew players are among MLS' statistical leaders as the 2008 regular season schedule comes down the home stretch. Midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto is enjoying an MVP-type season, as he currently leads the league in both assists and corner kicks by a wide margin. Schelotto currently has 18 assists on the season, distancing himself from his closest competitor (Javier Morales, RSL - 11), while also totaling 113 corner kicks in 2008. Schelotto is also tied for first place in MLS in game-winning assists with five this season. Forward Alejandro Moreno finds himself tied for eighth place in MLS in goals scored, with eight, and midfielder Robbie Rogers ranks among the league's best in several categories, as he currently ranks fourth in shots (67) and is sixth in shots on goal (31). Rogers is also tied for third in MLS in multi-goal games, with two, and is tied for second in game-winning goals with three game-winners this season

CREW FEATURES THREE OF THE LEAGUE'S FOUR MOST-FOULED PLAYERS

The Crew's roster features three of the four most-fouled players in Major League Soccer - Robbie Rogers currently ranks first in the league with 67 fouls suffered this season, while Alejandro Moreno sits in third place with 63 and Guillermo Barros Schelotto is fourth with 55.

Check out the Columbus Crew SC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 1, 2008


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