After earning a crucial 1-0 win at Saprissa last Wednesday (Sept. 16) – thanks to an Eddie Gaven goal in the fifth minute – the Crew travels to Chicago tonight for a MLS match-up between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
Tonight’s MLS match in Chicago, which kicks off at 3 p.m. ET, will be televised live regionally on ONN-TV with Neil Sika and Dante Washington calling all the action, and will also be simulcast in English on 106.7 WRXS (please note change) and on-line at TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com. The match can also be heard in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM.
Chicago, which currently sits in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 10-6-9 record (39 pts.), enters tonight’s Eastern Conference match-up after drawing with Real Salt Lake, 1-1, at Rio Tinto Stadium last Saturday (Sept. 12). Kettering, Ohio-native Chris Rolfe scored in the match’s 44th minute to give the Fire an early lead, but RSL’s Jamison Olave equalized in the 72nd minute to send both sides away with a point. Former Crew forward Brian McBride returned to the Chicago starting line-up in last Saturday’s match after sitting out eight games with a shoulder injury. Despite his extended absence, McBride is tied with Rolfe for the team-lead in goals, with six, with both players also registering one assist on the season. Mexican international Cuauhtemoc Blanco leads the squad with eight assists this season, while also scoring five goals.
The Crew, which leads Major League Soccer with an 11-4-9 record and 42 points, enters tonight’s match on the heels of its stirring 2-1 win over West-leading Houston in its most recent MLS match last Sunday (Sept. 13) at Crew Stadium. Crew captain Frankie Hejduk put the Black & Gold in the lead after heading home a re-directed cross from Gino Padula in the 34th minute, but Houston would respond with a match equalizer in the 80th minute from Cam Weaver. The Crew found the opportunity it was looking for in second-half stoppage time when forward Alejandro Moreno was pulled down in the Houston penalty box by Dynamo defender Geoff Cameron, earning a penalty kick assessment from referee Jorge Gonzalez. Eddie Gaven calmly stepped to the spot and slotted a low shot into the right corner past goalkeeper Pat Onstad for the game-winner.
COLUMBUS CREW at Chicago Fire
Sunday, Sept. 20 – 3 p.m. (ET) – TOYOTA Park
National Television: N/A; Regional Television: ONN-TV
Crew Radio: 106.7 WRXS (English); La Que Buena 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
Tags: GameDay
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:03 am
a gutty finish, even if the PK call was weak. Hey, I’ll take it, especially since we were robbed against Chicago earlier this year.
many tough games remain.