MLS Columbus Crew SC

First-place Crew heads West for date with Rapids

Published on July 29, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - After defending its Trillium Cup title, extending its active regular-season home unbeaten streak to an MLS record 19 games (21 with playoffs) and moving into first place in the Eastern Conference with a stirring comeback victory over Toronto FC last Saturday (July 25), the Crew travels to Denver Saturday (August 1) to take on the Colorado Rapids in an inter-conference match-up.

Saturday's match, which kicks off at 9:30 p.m. (ET), will be televised live regionally on ONN-TV with Dwight Burgess and Dante Washington on the call. The match can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN and on-line at TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, with Neil Sika behind the microphone as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM.

Colorado, which sits tied with Chivas USA for fourth place in the Western Conference with a 7-5-6 record (27 pts.), enters the match after downing the New York Red Bulls, 4-0, last Saturday (July 25) at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Colorado got an early goal from Jacob Peterson in the match's fifth minute, followed by three second-half strikes in the span of 20 minutes by Pat Noonan, Nick LaBrocca and Mehdi Ballouchy, respectively, to dispatch New York and earn its second win in its last five MLS matches. Noonan's goal was his first for the Rapids since the June 15 trade that sent him West from Columbus. Colorado has been paced this season by the forward duo of Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. Casey leads the Rapids with eight goals, to go with one assist, this season while Cummings is second on the squad with six goals, and leads the club in assists with seven to-date.

The Crew, which sits in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 7-3-9 record (30 pts.), enters Saturday's match after the thrilling victory over Toronto FC last Saturday. Eddie Gaven put the Crew in the lead with a strike in the 32nd minute, but Toronto's Dwayne De Rosario answered with an equalizer just three minutes later. TFC then took the lead thanks to Ali Gerba's tally shortly after the halftime restart. The Crew scored an equalizer of its own thanks to Steven Lenhart's goal in the 76th minute. The Black & Gold completed its comeback in second-half stoppage time when Frankie Hejduk sent in a precision cross from the right side which found the head of an unmarked Jason Garey who emphatically nodded the game-winner into the back of the net.

The Crew was without reigning MLS MVP and 2009 MLS All-Star First XI selection Guillermo Barros Schelotto, 2009 MLS All-Star First XI selection Chad Marshall and midfielder Robbie Rogers in the match. Schelotto missed the match due to a hamstring injury, while Marshall and Rogers recently completed play with the U.S. Men's National Team in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. However, midfielder Adam Moffat made his return, entering the match in the 73rd minute, after missing the previous 12 games with a hamstring injury suffered on April 25.

Fans are invited to check out Saturday's match vs. Colorado at Claddagh Irish Pub (585 South Front Street in the Brewery District), which features each Crew away game on numerous televisions throughout the bar, and also airs live audio from the telecast. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win prizes and merchandise, courtesy of the Crew and away game viewing party partner, Budweiser.

Check out the Columbus Crew SC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from July 29, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central