MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew News and Notes for the Week of February 28

Published on March 1, 2005 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio (Tuesday, March 1) — The Columbus Crew will continue its spring training in La Manga, Spain until March 7 as the team continues to prepare for the 2005 season. Here is an update from The Crew as far as what's going on in camp as well as other news and notes.

CREW FALLS TO VIKING, 5-0, WILL REMAIN IN SPAIN UNTIL MARCH 7

The Crew lost to first division Norwegian side Viking, 5-0, on Monday, Feb. 28, in La Manga, Spain. The team will play three more games in La Manga, returning to Columbus on March 7. They will play two more games against first division Norwegian teams and one additional game. For the Viking game report visit www.thecrew.com. The complete Spain schedule is below.

WEEKLY TRAINING SCHEDULE (In La Manga, Spain – Local Times Listed)

February

28 Vs. Viking (Norway): Lost 5-0

March

1 10:00 am train 4:00 pm train

2 Noon vs. Molde (Norway) Off

3 10:00 am train 4:00 pm train

4 10:00 am train 6:30 pm vs. Bodo/Glimt (Norway)

5 10:00 am train 4:00 pm train

6 10:00 am train 6:30 pm vs. Start (Norway)

7 Depart for Columbus

PANAMANIAN MIDFIELDER LUIS GALLARDO JOINS CREW IN SPAIN

Panamanian midfielder Luis Gallardo has accompanied The Crew to Spain for preseason training. The 19-year-old is a member of Panama's Under-20 National Team that qualified for the World Youth Championships to be held in the Netherlands later this year from June 10-July 2. Gallardo is part of the Perez Zeledon (Costa Rica) system and hails from Paso Panoa, Panama.

CREW SITS AT 3-3-1 IN PRESEASON EXHIBITIONS

After going 3-2-1 in its first leg of preseason games in Florida, The Crew's loss in its first preseason match in Spain dropped its preseason exhibition record to 3-3-1. While in Florida, Columbus defeated the MetroStars (1-0), South Florida (1-0) and Central Florida (3-1), tying the U-17 National Team (1-1), and losing to D.C. (1-0) and Real Salt Lake.

FOUR CREW PLAYERS ARE IN U.S. NATIONAL TEAM CAMP

U.S. Men's National Team manager Bruce Arena announced that four Columbus Crew players are among the 22 players called into camp to begin preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mexico on March 27 and Guatemala three days later, on March 30.

The 22-man training camp squad gathered in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, Feb. 27, and is composed entirely of domestic-based players. The European-based players are expected to begin arriving into camp March 20. Kickoff for the March 27 match vs. Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is set for 1 p.m. ET, while the game vs. Guatemala is set for 8 p.m. ET on March 30 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala

The four Crew players in camp are goalkeeper Jon Busch, defender Chad Marshall, midfielder/defender Frankie Hejduk and midfielder Kyle Martino. Hejduk has 61 caps and five goals and Martino three caps, while Busch and Marshall have yet to make senior national team appearances. The four Columbus players in camp are tied for the most of any team with Colorado and New England.

The team will play two preparation matches in advance of the qualifiers. The U.S. first hosts Colombia on March 9 in Fullerton, Calif. Kickoff at Titan Stadium is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. The USA then makes its third-ever appearance in Albuquerque, N.M. as they welcome Honduras for a 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff at University Stadium on March 19.

The U.S. will play 10 games in the final round of qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup from Feb. 9 - Oct. 13, 2005. The USA, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago are competing for three automatic berths to the World Cup finals in Germany. The fourth-place finisher will face the fifth-place team from the Asian Football Confederation in a home-and-home series to determine the last entrant into the tournament. The U.S. opened final round play with a 2-1 victory in Trinidad on Feb. 9.

COMPLETE 2005 CREW AND MLS SCHEDULE IS AVAILABLE

The Crew announced its 2005 season schedule on Monday, February 14. For the complete Crew schedule log-on to The Crew's official website at www.thecrew.com. Major League Soccer also announced the complete 2005 composite schedule which can be found at www.mlsnet.com.

CREW TO BEGIN U.S. OPEN CUP IN ROUND OF 16 ON AUGUST 3

A total of 42 teams – 26 professional and 16 amateur – will compete in the 2005 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as it kicks off in June. After 40 teams participated in the prestigious tournament in 2004, two expansion Major League Soccer teams have been added to the fray in 2005, bringing the total number of teams to its highest level since MLS began participating in the event in 1996. The U.S. Open Cup, which is recognized as U.S. Soccer's National Championship, is an annual competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer. Qualifying is slated to be completed by May 30, with the pairings announcement expected on June 1. The Crew will enter the tournament on Aug. 3 in the fourth round (Round of 16). The quarterfinals will be played Aug. 24, the Semifinals on Sept. 14, with the final being played on Sept. 28.

SEASON AND HOME OPENER SET FOR APRIL 2 VS. LOS ANGELES AT 7:30 P.M.

The Crew will kick off year No. 10 of Major League Soccer on April 2 at Columbus Crew Stadium, when the Black & Gold face the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7:30 p.m. Currently the only way to attend the home opener is to purchase Crew season tickets by calling 614-447-CREW. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date.

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