MLS Columbus Crew SC

Streaking Crew prepares for Sunday showdown with West-leading Chivas

Published on June 11, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - After completing a sweep of its regular-season series with the Kansas City Wizards last Saturday (June 6), the Crew returns to Crew Stadium Sunday to face Western Conference-leading Chivas USA as it tries to extend its current unbeaten streak to nine games.

Sunday's match, which kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, will be televised live regionally on ONN-TV, with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott calling all the action and Katie Witham providing sideline coverage. 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 and John Bluem behind the microphone, as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM.

Chivas USA, which currently leads both the MLS and Western Conference standings, enters the match after falling to Houston, 1-0, Wednesday (June 10) at Robertson Stadium thanks to a tally by the Dynamo's Stuart Holden in first half stoppage time. In its previous match last Saturday (June 6), Chivas topped Seattle, 1-0, at The Home Depot Center. Eduardo Lillingston tallied the match's lone goal in 38th minute, calmly slotting a rebound past Sounders keeper Kasey Keller. Lillingston has led the Chivas attack this season with five goals, to go along with one assist, while Nagamura has also contributed significantly with four goals and one assist to his credit. Chivas is coached by MLS legend Preki, who was a teammate of Crew head coach Robert Warzycha at Everton FC (England) in the early 1990s.

The Crew, which now sits tied for third place in the Eastern Conference standings, with a 3-2-7 record and 16 points, enters Sunday's match after defeating the Kansas City Wizards, 2-0, last Saturday (June 6) at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto provided both of the Crew's goals in the match, the first of which came in the 14th minute when Kansas City defenders Aaron Hohlbein and Jimmy Conrad collided with goalkeeper Kevin Hartman at the top of the penalty box as Hartman attempted to corral the ball. Schelotto, who was providing pressure on the play, secured the loose ball and tapped it into the empty net for the eventual game-winner. The Crew was faced with adversity in the 51st minute when defender Chad Marshall was sent off by referee Baldomero Toledo after a serious foul play on Hohlbein. The Black & Gold responded with its second goal of the match in the 64th minute when Eddie Gaven was brought down by Wizards defender Matt Besler just inside the penalty box and Toledo immediately pointed to the spot for a penalty kick. Schelotto stepped to the spot and calmly deposited the ball past Hartman for his league-leading eighth goal and his second of the night.

The Crew, which is now 3-0-5 in its last eight games, was without several key players for Saturday's match at Kansas City. Frankie Hejduk, Alejandro Moreno and Duncan Oughton were all away with their respective national teams, while regular starters William Hesmer and Brian Carroll continued to miss time due to back and shoulder injuries, respectively. Marshall will be unavailable for Sunday's match against Chivas USA due to an automatic, one-game red card suspension.

COLUMBUS CREW vs. Chivas USA

Sunday, June 14 - 3 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium

National Television: N/A; Regional Television: ONN-TV

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

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

SCHELOTTO MOVES INTO TIE FOR FIRST PLACE ON MLS GOAL SCORING LIST

In recording his seventh and eighth tallies of the season in the Crew's 2-0 win at Kansas City last Saturday (June 6), reigning MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto currently sits in a tie for first place among Major League Soccer's leading goal scorers. Schelotto, along with Colorado forward Conor Casey, leads the way at the top of the list, followed by Chicago's Brian McBride, K.C.'s Josh Wolff, L.A.'s Landon Donovan, Robbie Findley of Salt Lake and Dallas' Kenny Cooper, who sit in a tie for second place with six goals apiece this season. Schelotto, who now has totaled one more goal than during his entire MVP season of 2008, has continued to power the Crew's offensive attack in 2009, as he has scored or assisted on nine of the Crew's 17 goals so far this season.

CREW RECORDS FIRST SHUTOUT OF 2009, GRUENEBAUM NOTCHES FOURTH OF CAREER

The Crew earned its first shutout of the 2009 season in its 2-0 victory at Kansas City last Saturday (June 6). Goalkeeper and Kansas City native Andy Gruenebaum earned his fourth career shutout in the process, his first since April 28, 2007 against D.C. United. Gruenebaum had three saves in last Saturday's match, including a diving effort on Jack Jewsbury's blast in the 73rd minute to maintain the clean sheet.

CREW'S U.S. SOCCER FOUNDATION PASSBACK PROGRAM SET TO BEGIN SUNDAY

The U.S. Soccer Foundation, in partnership with the Crew and Major League Soccer, will be collecting new and gently used soccer equipment at Crew Stadium through its Passback program this Sunday, June 14, during the Crew's match vs. Chivas USA, as well as on June 27 during its match vs. the New York Red Bulls. The equipment collected will then be distributed within our community, to programs including the Kids Inner-City Development Soccer (K.I.D.S.) League and the Near-East Side Inner-City Youth Soccer Program, so that others may enjoy the wonderful sport of soccer. Fans are encouraged to gather up those jerseys, shin guards, shoes, socks and soccer balls and bring them to the Crew's home matches in June to "Share the equipment. Share the Game!" Crew defender Jed Zayner serves as the local Passback spokesperson.

UPDATE ON MORENO AND OUGHTON WITH RESPECTIVE NATIONAL TEAMS

Alejandro Moreno joined Venezuela for a 1-0 World Cup Qualifying win over Bolivia on June 6, but did not appear in the match. Moreno and Venezuela wrapped up the current window of Qualifying action at home Wednesday (June 10) with a 2-2 draw against Uruguay. Moreno started and went the full 90 minutes in the match. Meanwhile Duncan Oughton and his New Zealand teammates participated in three friendly matches on the road. First, the All Whites traveled to Tanzania on June 3, where they fell to the Tanzanian squad by a score of 2-1. Oughton did not appear in the match against Tanzania, but he started and went the full 90 minutes in New Zealand's scoreless draw with Botswana on June 6. New Zealand then fell to Italy, 4-3, on Wednesday (June 10), but Oughton did not see action.

BLISS EMBARKS ON SCOUTING TRIP TO GHANA

Crew Technical Director Brian Bliss is in Ghana for a week-long scouting trip, marking the first time the Crew has visited Africa for scouting purposes. Bliss will attend an organized talent showcase while in Ghana and is expected to return stateside this weekend.

RECREATION UNLIMITED CELEBRITY SPORTS GALA TO BE HELD AT CREW STADIUM JUNE 18

Recreation Unlimited's annual Celebrity Sports Gala will be held June 18 on Crew Stadium's stage and Crew owner/operator Clark Hunt will be the featured speaker. In addition, Crew players and coaches will be in attendance and exciting auctions will include a day as assistant GM for a Crew away game and an autographed guitar and backstage passes from Rascal Flatts, as the special evening celebrates the Crew's 2008 championship season, while benefiting the Recreation Unlimited Foundation. Recreation Unlimited is a respected organization that provides activities and programs for physically challenged persons, especially kids at their Delaware County facility. To acquire tickets or learn more, please visit recreationunlimited.org.

WCOL'S 'BUCKEYE COUNTRY JAM 2009' TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE

Tickets are still available for WCOL's 'Buckeye Country Jam 2009' which will be hosted at Crew Stadium on Saturday, June 20. Tickets for the 14th annual show, priced at $10 and $20, are available at all Ticketmaster locations and the Crew Stadium Box office. The show will feature an outstanding lineup of popular country artists, including headliner Josh Turner, along with Emerson Drive, Heidi Newfield and Justin Moore. Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 5 p.m. All floor seats are reserved ($20) and all bowl seating is general admission ($10). VIP parking will be available in advance through Ticketmaster online. Complete details on Country Jam 2009 are available online at www.wcol.com.

CONCACAF GOLD CUP TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Tickets for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup™ doubleheader at Crew Stadium on July 7 are on sale now at the Crew Stadium Box Office and www.goldcup.com. The Group A doubleheader in Columbus will pit Jamaica vs. Costa Rica at 7 p.m. and Canada vs. El Salvador at 9 p.m. (all times Eastern). Individual prices for the doubleheader at Crew Stadium start at $27 and a Family Four Pack of four lower-sideline tickets will be available for $100. The USA is the two-time defending champion, after defeating archrival Mexico in a memorable, sold-out 2-1 final in Chicago's Soldier Field in 2007. The Gold Cup, which has seen record attendances and television ratings in each of the past two competitions (2005 & 2007) will feature CONCACAF's 12 best national teams for the region's biennial title, beginning July 3 in Los Angeles and finishing with the championship match at Giants Stadium on July 26. More information about the CONCACAF Gold Cup™ can be found on the confederation's official Web site: www.CONCACAF.com

BOTH CREW SOCCER ACADEMY SQUADS QUALIFY FOR U.S. DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY PLAYOFFS

The Crew Soccer Academy 15/16 and 17/18 squads have each qualified for the U.S. Development Academy Playoffs, to be played at Bryan Park in Greensboro, N.C. from June 26-29. The Development Academy features a new postseason process in 2009, which was introduced at the Academy Annual General Meeting in July 2008. Teams are ranked in their division based on the points accumulated from only their Division games, with the top three teams from each division automatically qualifying for the Playoffs. The Wild Card candidates are then ranked based on their points/game from their Overall Record, including Division, Conference and Showcase games. The top five Wild Card candidates qualify for the Playoffs. Both CSA squads competed in the Great Lakes Division, with the 15/16 squad finishing the season with a 6-2-5 record in-division, good for third place and an automatic berth, while the 17/18s finished with a 7-5-2 conference record, which placed them in fourth place and just out of reach of an automatic berth. However, thanks to its 14-7-5 overall record, the 17/18s successfully secured one of the five Wild Card slots. The 32 teams who qualify for the Playoffs will be seeded 1 to 32 based on their points/game from their Overall Record, including Division, Conference and Showcase games. The teams will then be split into eight groups of four teams based on their seeds. The teams will play three games within their respective groups and the group winner will qualify for Finals Week, to be held July 10-17 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Check out the Columbus Crew SC Statistics

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



Major League Soccer Stories from June 11, 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