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MLS Columbus Crew SC

First-place Crew travels to California Saturday to face Earthquakes in first game of doubleheader

August 4, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - After earning a gritty win over Colorado last Saturday (Aug. 1) to maintain its hold on first place in the Eastern Conference, the Crew travels to San Francisco Saturday (Aug. 8) to face the San Jose Earthquakes in the first game of a special international doubleheader at Candlestick Park.

Saturday's match, which kicks off at 8:30 p.m. (ET), will be televised live nationally on Fox Soccer Channel. 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.

San Jose, which sits in eighth place in the Western Conference with at 4-10-5 record (17 pts.) enters the match after earning an emphatic 4-0 win over Seattle last Sunday (Aug. 2) at Buck Shaw Stadium. An Osvaldo Alonso own goal opened the scoring with the game less than two minutes old. Sounders FC was then reduced to 10 men after James Riley's 33rd-minute ejection, and San Jose put the game away with second-half goals from Cornell Glen, Darren Huckerby and substitute Chris Wondolowski, giving the 'Quakes their first win in their last five MLS games. San Jose had been paced this season by the forward tandem of Ryan Johnson and Arturo Alvarez. Johnson leads the club with seven goals, along with two assists, while Alvarez is second on the team in goals with five tallies, to go with two assists.

The Crew, which sits in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 8-3-9 record (33 pts.), enters Saturday's match after earning a hard-fought 1-0 win over Colorado on Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Following a Rapids foul from about 25 yards out in the 39th minute, midfielder Robbie Rogers touched the re-start over to Chad Marshall, and the reigning MLS Defender of the Year tucked his blast inside the right post and past Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens for the match's lone goal. The victory gave Columbus its fourth shutout of the season as goalkeeper William Hesmer kept the Rapids off the scoreboard with six saves.

The Crew was without reigning MLS MVP and 2009 MLS All-Star First XI selection Guillermo Barros Schelotto and MLS All-Star defender Frankie Hejduk in last Saturday's match. Schelotto missed the match due to a hamstring injury, while Hejduk sat out due to a quad strain.

The Crew's match vs. the Earthquakes Saturday will be part of San Jose's international doubleheader at Candlestick Park entitled the "Night of Champions." After the evening's MLS match between defending MLS Cup Champion Columbus and San Jose, UEFA Champions League winner FC Barcelona will take on powerhouse Chivas Guadalajara in an international friendly.

Fans can check out Saturday's match vs. San Jose 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.

COLUMBUS CREW at San Jose Earthquakes

Saturday, August 8 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) - Candlestick Park

National Television: Fox Soccer Channel; Regional Television: N/A

Crew Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Que Buena 1550-AM (Spanish)

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

CREW RECORDS FOURTH SHUTOUT OF 2009, HESMER EARNS THIRD CLEAN SHEET OF SEASON

The Crew earned its fourth shutout of the 2009 season in its 1-0 victory at Colorado last Saturday (Aug. 1). Goalkeeper William Hesmer made six saves in the match on his way to earning his third shutout of the campaign. Hesmer now sits eighth among MLS goals-against-average leaders with a 1.18 GAA after missing eight matches early in the season due to knee and back ailments.

SCHELOTTO REMAINS IN FIRST PLACE ON MLS GOAL SCORING LIST

Despite missing his third consecutive match due to injury last Saturday (August 1), reigning MLS MVP and 2009 MLS All-Star First XI selection Guillermo Barros Schelotto remains at the top of Major League Soccer's goal scoring list. Schelotto, who leads the Crew with 10 goals this season, is followed on the list by Seattle's Fredy Montero, who has nine tallies to date, and Colorado's Conor Casey, Los Angeles' Landon Donovan, Dallas' Jeff Cunningham, D.C.'s Luciano Emilio and Dwayne De Rosario of Toronto who each have eight goals in 2009.

MORENO SELECTED TO VENEZUELA NATIONAL TEAM FOR AUG. 12 FRIENDLY VS. COLOMBIA

Crew forward Alejandro Moreno has been called in to the Venezuelan National Team for its Aug. 12 friendly vs. Colombia at 6:30 p.m. at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Both sides, which are currently tied for seventh place in the South American qualifying standings, will use the match to prepare to resume World Cup Qualifying in September.

RASCAL FLATTS TO ONCE AGAIN VISIT CREW STADIUM THIS SUNDAY, AUG. 9

Columbus Crew Stadium and the Ohio State Fair will once again be hosting Rascal Flatts at Crew Stadium this Sunday, Aug. 9, marking the fourth time in five years they'll perform at the venue. This year's show takes place on the closing night of the 2009 Ohio State Fair. Dierks Bentley and former Hootie and the Blowfish lead singer Darius Rucker will be the support acts for the show. The show will begin at 7:30 pm with gates opening at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are still available all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster phone centers at 800-745-3000 and the Crew Stadium Box Office. Ticket prices are $45, $60 & $75, all of which include admission to the Fair prior to the show. Rascal Flatts has sold over 18 million albums, scored 10 No. 1 singles with five of their albums being multi-platinum sellers. Rascal Flatts has become one of the most consistently awarded acts in history, with their 2008 ACM Vocal Group of the Year award, their sixth, tying them with all-time super-group Alabama for most consecutive wins in that category. The band is also the reigning CMA and CMT Vocal Group of the Year.

Crew CELEBRITY Bartender Night at PARK STREET PATION NEXT TUESDAY, AUG. 11

Come join Budweiser and the Crew on Tuesday, Aug. 11 ,from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Park Street Patio (525 North Park Street in the Arena District), when Crew veterans Jason Garey, Frankie Hejduk and Duncan Oughton will be serving as celebrity bartenders for the evening, serving your favorite Budweiser products. All tips will benefit the Crew Soccer Foundation youth programming for central Ohio youth and families. Don't miss out on the fun in support of a great cause! Patrons must be 21 or older.

Crew, Glidden to Celebrate Sawmill Rd. Home Depot's 10th Anniversary on Aug. 15

On Saturday, Aug. 15, the Crew, along with its presenting sponsor Glidden, will help celebrate the Sawmill Road Home Depot's 10th Anniversary (5858 Sawmill Rd.) The Home Depot location will also be hosting its monthly Kid's Workshop in conjunction with the Crew, Glidden and other organizations throughout Columbus. The Crew Soccer Tour will be present from 9 a.m. to Noon and the Crew's Eric Brunner, a native of Dublin, Ohio, is scheduled to be out signing autographs and helping the kids during the Workshop from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This community event will not only celebrate the store's 10th Anniversary, but also the 30th Anniversary of The Home Depot nationwide. The event is free and open to the entire community. The Kid's Workshop will run from 9 a.m. to Noon and will be held outside of the store, weather permitting. Come out and enjoy all the wide range of festivities and get a chance to meet Dublin-native Eric Brunner.

THIRD ANNUAL CREW 5K SET FOR AUG. 16 AT CREW STADIUM

The Columbus Crew 5K will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 8 a.m. at Crew Stadium. All runners will receive a free tech shirt, goody bag and a free ticket to see the Crew take on FC Dallas at home that same day at 7 p.m. The Crew 5K Run/Walk course will wind around Columbus Crew Stadium, the Ohio Historical Society and some of the nearby fairground areas, with the finish taking place inside Crew Stadium at midfield. Following the race, there will be music, food, games, Crew players, Crew Cat and the Crewzers on the Crew Kicker Plaza. Early registration can be completed for $30 until Aug. 1, with the fee becoming $35 after Aug. 1, and $40 on Race Day. Registration for the 1 Mile Kids' Run, which starts at 9:15 a.m., can be completed for $16, and includes a ticket to that evening's Crew game. Register online at: https://www.signmeup.com/TZ2V4K7 . Prizes for top Crew 5K finishers include on-field recognition during pre-game, game tickets to future Crew games, team-autographed items and more. Race entries, registration, shirts and goodie bags can be picked up at the Columbus Running Company (6465 Perimeter Dr. Dublin, OH 43016) from Saturday, Aug. 8, through 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14. Race Day packet pickup and Race Day registration begins at the stadium at 6:30 am. For more information visit TheCrew.com

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