COLUMBUS, Ohio - After defeating Real Salt Lake last Saturday (July 18) to extend its current regular season home unbeaten streak to a MLS record-tying 18 games (20 with playoffs), the Crew welcomes Toronto FC to town this Saturday (July 25) in the decisive match of the 2009 Trillium Cup competition, as both clubs continue to battle for position in the crowded Eastern Conference standings.
The Trillium Cup, which refers to the official flower of the province of Ontario and official wildflower of the State of Ohio, is awarded annually to the winner of the season series between the geographic rivals. The Crew won the inaugural competition last season, going unbeaten in three games against the Reds (1-0-2). The two teams have played twice to-date in 2009 - March 28 in Columbus and May 2 in Toronto - with each match ending in a 1-1 draw, setting up Saturday's title-deciding match-up.
Saturday's match, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., will be televised live regionally on ONN-TV with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott on the call 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 with Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo calling the action.
Toronto FC, which sits in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 7-6-5 record (26 pts.), enters the match after drawing with the Houston Dynamo, 1-1, last Saturday (July 18) at BMO Field. The Reds drew first blood when Dwayne De Rosario converted on a scoring chance in the 37th minute and held Houston without a shot on goal until well into the second half, but the resilient Dynamo capitalized on one of their few chances when Bobby Boswell knocked in his own rebound in the 75th minute. TFC is 3-1-1 in its last five MLS matches, and it has been paced this season by the midfield due of De Rosario and Amado Guevara. De Rosario leads the club with six goals this season, along with three assists, while Guevara sits second in goals scored with five, while also tallying a team-leading four assists.
The Crew, which sits tied for second place in the Eastern Conference with D.C. United with a 6-3-9 record (27 pts.), enters Saturday's match after securing a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake last Saturday (July 18) at Crew Stadium. Forward Steven Lenhart opened the scoring for the Black & Gold in the 23rd minute after blasting home a loose ball in the Salt Lake penalty area, and was followed by fellow attacker Jason Garey, who poked home a loose ball of his own less than 10 minutes later for the eventual game-winner. Garey then capped his night with his second tally of the evening off a beautiful sequence just minutes after the halftime restart. Garey began the play by sprinting up field after laying the ball back to Duncan Oughton at midfield. Oughton fed the ball down the right channel to Lenhart, who was surrounded by three RSL players but put a one-touch heel pass square to Garey, who calmly dribbled into the penalty box and slotted a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Nick Rimando. RSL earned a consolation goal from Raphael Cox in the match's late stages, but that would be all the visitors could muster on the evening. The Crew was without reigning MLS MVP and 2009 MLS First XI selection Guillermo Barros Schelotto, forward Alejandro Moreno, 2009 MLS First XI selection Chad Marshall and midfielder Robbie Rogers in the match. Schelotto and Moreno missed the match due to hamstring and groin injuries, respectively, while Marshall and Rogers are currently away with U.S. Men's National Team as it competes in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
COLUMBUS CREW vs. TORONTO FC
Saturday, July 25 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) - 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)
MARSHALL, ROGERS HELP U.S. TO 2-1 WIN OVER PANAMA SATURDAY IN CONCACAF GOLD CUP
The U.S. Men's National Team got a stunning strike from Kyle Beckerman and a penalty kick in overtime from Kenny Cooper to defeat Panama 2-1 last Saturday (July 18) at Lincoln Financial Field to advance to the semifinals of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Crew defender Chad Marshall and midfielder Robbie Rogers each started the match, with Marshall going the full 120 minutes and Rogers subbing out in the 110 minute. The U.S. now moves on to face Honduras in the semifinals on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Soldier Field in Chicago. The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel, TeleFutura and the Futbol de Primera Radio Network. Fans can also follow the match live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker and Twitter. The Gold Cup is the championship of the Confederation of North and Central American and Caribbean nations (CONCACAF). The U.S. is seeking to become the second team (Mexico) to win three consecutive Gold Cups.
CREW LOOKS TO EXTEND REGULAR SEASON HOME UNBEATEN STREAK, MAKE MLS HISTORY
Thanks to its emphatic 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake last Saturday (July 18), the Crew extended its current regular season home unbeaten streak to 18 games and will look to continue that streak this Saturday (July 25) against Toronto FC. The Crew's streak (12-0-6), which dates back to a 2-0 loss to San Jose on June 7, 2008, currently sits tied with the aforementioned Earthquakes, who ran off an 18-game unbeaten streak from Sept. 25, 2004 to Oct. 15, 2005. With a victory this Saturday over TFC, the Black & Gold would earn a significant distinction as owners of the longest regular season home unbeaten streak (19 games - June 7, 2008 to July 25, 2009), longest regular season road unbeaten streak (9 games - July 10, 2004 to Oct. 16, 2004) and the longest overall unbeaten streak (19 games - July 3, 2004 to April 2, 2005) in MLS history.
SCHELOTTO REMAINS IN FIRST PLACE ON MLS GOAL SCORING LIST
Despite sitting out last weekend's match due to injury, 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 who has eight goals in 2009. Schelotto, who has totaled three more goals than he did 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 thirteen of the Crew's 25 goals so far this season.
GAREY SCORES HIS SECOND AND THIRD GOALS OF THE SEASON
Crew forward Jason Garey scored his second and third goals of the season, including the game-winner, in the Crew's 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake last Saturday (July 18). Garey tallied the Crew's second goal of the night in the 31st minute when Steven Lenhart challenged Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando to a loose ball in the box. Rimando was unable to control and Garey pounced on the loose ball and tapped it into the back of the net for the game-winner. Garey added to his total just minutes after the halftime restart with a beautiful passing sequence up the right side of the field. Garey began the play by laying off a pass to Duncan Oughton at midfield and sprinting up the right channel. Oughton fed the ball downfield to Steven Lenhart, who was surrounded by three RSL players but put a one-touch heel pass square to Garey, who calmly dribbled into the penalty box and slotted a left-footed shot past Rimando. The match was the second multi-goal performance of Garey's career. He had previously scored twice on Sept. 2, 2008 against New England.
LENHART TALLIES FIRST GOAL OF 2009 SEASON
Crew forward Steven Lenhart scores his first goal of the season in the Crew's win last Saturday (July 18). Lenhart's tally came in the 23rd minute when Frankie Hejduk sent a low service into the box that RSL defender Jamison Olave mishandled. Olave's clearance went straight to the feel of Lenhart who blasted a right-footed strike from 10 yards out into the back of the net for the match's opening score. Lenhart also contributed his second assist of the season on a beautiful back-heeled pass on Jason Garey's goal in the 52nd minute.
OUGHTON EARNS FIRST MLS START IN OVER A YEAR, TALLIES FIRST ASSIST IN ALMOST TWO YEARS
Crew midfielder Duncan Oughton - the club's most tenured player - earned his first MLS start in over a year in the Crew's 3-1 win over Salt Lake last Saturday (July 18). Oughton's last start had been on June 14, 2008 in a 3-0 win at the Kansas City Wizards. The New Zealand native also tallied his first assist in almost two years last Saturday, as part of an incisive passing sequence that led to Jason Garey's goal in the 52nd minute. Oughton had registered his last MLS assist in a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles on September 30, 2007.
Premier at Sawmill to host Team Rally THIS THURSDAY, July 23 in ADVANCE of Toronto FC match
This Thursday, July 23, Premier at Sawmill Athletic Club (3111 Hayden Rd. Columbus, OH 43235) will host a Columbus Crew rally for all fans. The Crew Soccer Tour will be on hand to kick off the event at 5 p.m., followed by the Rally beginning at 7:30 p.m. Crew players and other special guests will be on hand to sign autographs and interact with fans. There will also be hot dogs, bratwursts and Pepsi and Budweiser products for sale all night on the pool deck. The event will be free and open to the public on the Club's Pool Deck. Come out to support the Crew as they prepare to take the field in the third and final leg of the 2009 Trillium Cup against Toronto FC on July 25 at 7:30 p.m.
ANNUAL CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION GOLF CLASSIC SET FOR JULY 27 AT WEDGEWOOD
The Annual Crew Soccer Foundation Golf Classic, benefiting The Buckeye Ranch, will be held next Monday, July 27, at Wedgewood Golf and Country Club. Since 1961, The Buckeye Ranch has offered hope to countless children and families who have struggled with emotional, behavioral, and mental health issues. The Ranch is a recognized leader in providing mental health services and has eight locations throughout central Ohio and Hamilton County. Every day, more than 1,800 children and families benefit from the Ranch's many programs and treatment services. The Crew Soccer Foundation is the Crew's charitable arm, dedicated to giving back to the community that supports Ohio's Major League Soccer club, by serving as a catalyst for community investment and development. Leveraging the club's unique status as the state's - and region's - acknowledged soccer leader, the CSF works to advance the sport at all levels and enrich the overall quality of life in central Ohio and beyond, with an emphasis on developing the potential of our area's young people.
CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE TEAM UP FOR 'AN EVENING OF SOCCER & SPIRTIS'
The Crew's charitable arm, The Crew Soccer Foundation, will host "An Evening of Soccer & Spirits," featuring a runway show and scotch and wine tasting Tuesday, August 4, from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Men's Department of the Saks Fifth Avenue location at Polaris Fashion Mall (1350 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OH 43240). Columbus Crew players and staff will be in attendance at the event, many of whom will be displaying the latest in fashion apparel from Saks Fifth Avenue. Tickets are available for $40 a person, with all proceeds supporting Crew Soccer Foundation programming for central Ohio youth and families. For more information, please contact Robin Ungerleider at (614) 447-4175 or rungerleider@thecrew.com.
