MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew Clinches; Landon Stands With Stern

Published on September 22, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


Columbus Crew First to Claim an MLS Cup Playoff Berth

With five weeks left in the regular season, the Columbus Crew are the first team in MLS to mathematically clinch a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Even if the Crew were to lose their five remaining games, the worst they could finish in the overall standings is eighth, thus taking the second wild card. With the postseason a certainty, the Crew can focus on trying to win the Supporters' Shield, which goes to the team with the best record overall, for the second time in team history.

The race for the remaining seven spots tightened in the past week with Real Salt Lake and Colorado moving within two points of D.C. United for the second wild card. Colorado currently holds an automatic seed due to a better goal differential than RSL, its Rocky Mountain rival. Those two teams split their first two meetings this year and close the regular season against each other on Oct. 25.

Landon Stands With Stern

For just the second time in MLS history, a player has reached the 19-goal mark in 20 games. Landon Donovan did it Saturday with his hat trick against D.C. United. The only other player to score at that pace through 20 games was Trinidadian Stern John, who did it with the Columbus Crew in 1998 en route to 26 goals in 27 games.

John's 1998 campaign is still the best scoring rate during a single season at 0.96 goals per game. Donovan could break that record this season:

Highest Single-Season Scoring Rates in MLS History:

Yr. Player Team GP Goals AVG

1998 Stern John CLB 27 26 0.96

2008 Landon Donovan LA 20 19 0.95

2000 Mamadou Diallo TB 28 26 0.93

2002 Carlos Ruiz LA 26 24 0.92

1996 Roy Lassiter TB 30 27 0.90

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan Wins MLS Player of the Week Award

Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan was voted Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 26 of the 2008 season. Donovan recorded a hat trick and an assist on Saturday, leading Los Angeles to a 5-2 victory over D.C. United and giving Bruce Arena his first win since taking over as head coach of the Galaxy.

This is Donovan's fourth Player of the Week award this season and the ninth of his career. He won back-to-back awards in weeks 4 and 5, and again in Week 13.

The Major League Soccer Player of the Week is selected each week of the MLS regular season by a panel of journalists from The North American Soccer Reporters (NASR). The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

Chicago Fire Goalkeeper Jon Busch on ESPN.com Web Chat, Tuesday 3 p.m. ET

Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch will chat live with fans, Tuesday, September 23 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.com. Busch, who leads the league with a 0.96 goals against average, will discuss a range of topics including the Thursday Night Primetime game on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Thursday's match kicks off at 9 p.m. ET at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

Fans can submit questions and read Busch's responses via ESPN's SportsNation by clicking here.

MLS Week 27: Sept. 25-28, 2008

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, September 25

Los Angeles Galaxy at Chicago Fire, 9 p.m. (ESPN2, Deportes)

Last year, these clubs faced each other in the final game of the regular season with a playoff spot on the line for both teams. Chicago defeated LA, 1-0, on a late John Thorrington goal, crushing LA's hopes of a playoff berth. This year they meet with five games remaining, but both need points.

Behind a hat trick from Landon Donovan on Saturday, the Galaxy put an end to a club-record 12-game winless streak and Bruce Arena gained his first victory since taking over as head coach.

After their five-goal outburst against D.C. United on Saturday, the Galaxy have scored 49 goals in 25 games. Their 1.96 goals per game would be the most in a single season since 2001, when the Miami Fusion and the Galaxy were 1-2, with 2.19 and 2.00 goals per game respectively.

While still sporting the league's best defensive record, the Fire allowed four goals Sunday in a loss to FC Dallas - the first time this season they had allowed more than two in a game.

Saturday, September 27

Houston Dynamo at Toronto FC, 3:30 p.m. (DK, MLSLIVE.tv)

The Dynamo return to action in league play after a weekend off, following the postponement of their home game Saturday night against San Jose as a result of the effects of Hurricane Ike. That game has been rescheduled for Oct. 15.

On Tuesday, the Dynamo travel to Panama to take on San Francisco FC in their CONCACAF Champions League opener. In a 12-day span, the Dynamo are slated to play four games in four countries. After the trip to Toronto, they head to Mexico City to play Pumas UNAM in the Champions League.

The Dynamo defeated Toronto FC 3-1 on June 8 in Houston, but last season, they lost in their lone visit to BMO Field, 1-0.

Columbus Crew at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (DK, MLSLIVE.tv)

The two teams with the top overall records in Major League Soccer meet for the second time in three weeks. Behind a goal and two assists from Guillermo Barros Schelotto, the Crew posted a stunning 4-0 victory at Crew Stadium on Sept. 6.

Whether MLS Volkswagen MVP candidate Schelotto will be healthy is a key storyline entering the match - he has missed the Crew's last two matches with a hamstring injury. Columbus gained a 1-1 tie at Toronto and rolled 3-1 past New York at home in those contests.

With the season series tied, 1-1, the match could prove a key tiebreaker for playoff positioning and the race for the Supporters' Shield. The Revolution won 1-0 on May 24.

Colorado Rapids at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. (DK, MLSLIVE.tv)

Since taking over as head coach of the Rapids, Gary Smith has seen his team post three wins and a draw in six games.

With Saturday's 1-1 draw against New England, the Rapids are now tied with Rocky Mountain rival Real Salt Lake for third place in the Western Conference. On the final Saturday of the season, the teams face each other again. Each has claimed a 2-0 victory at home this season.

After missing five consecutive starts with injury, Juan Pablo Angel returned to the lineup July 10 - and in the 10 games since, he has scored eight goals. He scored the Red Bulls' only goal in their 3-1 loss at Columbus last Thursday. Angel now has 10 goals this season and is tied for fifth in the Golden Boot race; he has scored 29 goals in 42 league games in MLS.

The teams have met once this season - the Rapids claiming a 4-0 victory at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on the Fourth of July.

Real Salt Lake at San Jose Earthquakes, 10 p.m. (HDNet)

The Earthquakes return to action after a week off. Their game last week at Houston was postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Ike.

The Earthquakes are riding a nine-game unbeaten streak (4-0-5); their last loss was at Chivas USA on July 5. It's the longest unbeaten streak in MLS this season.

On Saturday, Real Salt Lake became the last team to lose at home this season, falling 1-0 to Chivas USA. RSL now plays their next two games on the road before the opening of their new stadium; the club's record away from Utah is 1-9-2.

When Real won 3-1 on May 31 in the first meeting with San Jose this season, it was their first win ever against the Earthquakes. San Jose went 2-0-2 against expansion RSL in 2005.

Kansas City Wizards at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

Both teams are coming off important wins for their playoff hopes. The Wizards are just a point behind D.C. United for the final wild card spot after their 2-0 home win against Toronto FC. Chivas USA moved into second place in the Western Conference with their 1-0 win at Real Salt Lake.

This is a rematch of last year's hard-fought Western Conference Semifinal Series, won by the Wizards 1-0 on aggregate over the two-leg series.

The teams met for the first time this season on Aug. 9, the Wizards taking a 3-0 lead before hanging on for a 3-2 victory at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Sunday, September 28

D.C. United at FC Dallas, 3 p.m. (TeleFutura)

It's the second meeting for the teams in two weeks. On Sept. 13, D.C. United overcame an early goal from Kenny Cooper to take a 2-1 lead, only for Andre Rocha to score in the 79th minute for a 2-2 tie at RFK Stadium.

Jeff Cunningham scored two goals for FC Dallas in a 4-1 win against Chicago on Sunday, celebrating each by mimicking rocking a baby. He and his wife celebrated the birth of their first child, Michaela, on Monday.

Since joining FC Dallas, Cunningham has four goals and two assists in six games. Cunningham has 103 career regular season goals, fourth on the all-time list that United's Jaime Moreno leads with 122.

D.C. United have never lost to FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park, winning all three league meetings there, including the last two by shutout. The last Dallas home win in the series came July 24, 2004, at the Cotton Bowl.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 22, 2008


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