The Columbus Crew welcomes Philadelphia Union this Saturday, September 29, at Crew Stadium in a crucial match for the Eastern Conference playoff run. The Black & Gold is unbeaten at home in the last six matches, dating back to the 1-0 win over D.C. United last July 21, and looks to extend its streak at Crew Stadium.
Saturday’s match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. and be televised live regionally in high definition on FOX Sports Ohio, with Dwight Burgess and Duncan Oughton calling all the action. The game can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN and on-line at TheCrew.com with Neil Sika and John Bluem on the call, and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1, with Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo behind the microphones.
The match comes on the heels of the 2-1 loss suffered by the Crew at Chicago last Saturday, Sept. 22, in which Jairo Arrieta scored the lone Crew goal early in the match.
This is the third and final regular season meeting between the clubs. The Crew played the first two matches at PPL Park in Chester, Pa., succumbing to the Union 1-0 on April 14, and defeating Philadelphia 2-1 on August 29, with Josh Williams scoring his first career goal and Eddie Gaven netting the game-winner in stoppage time.
Since meeting the Crew last August, Philadelphia has gone 1-1-2, most recently defeating the Houston Dynamo 3-1 at home on Sunday, Sept. 23. Union team manager John Hackworth, who had the interim title removed on August 30, and was confirmed as the head coach, will be able to rely on the firepower of midfielders Freddy Adu and Gabriel Gomez who lead the team in goals scored with five.
Following the match, on Sunday, Sept. 30, The Black & Gold and the Union will square off in a MLS Reserve League match at Crew Stadium at 11 a.m. The reserve game will be free and open to the public. The Crew (6-2-0, 18 pts.) is well on pace to repeat its stellar 2011 Reserve League performance as it currently sits in second place in the East Division, with two games left, three points behind the Montreal Impact, who finished its reserve season with 22 points and a 7-2-1 record.
Next, the Black & Gold hosts Sporting KC on Sunday, Oct. 7, at 4 p.m. in another crucial match for the 2012 MLS Playoffs run.
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