Crew Clinches Second Straight Supporters' Shield

Defending MLS Cup champions become second back-to-back winners

COLUMBUS, OH – The Columbus Crew clinched its second consecutive Supporters’ Shield on Thursday night by virtue of Chivas USA’s 1-0 loss to the Chicago Fire. The Crew has a record of 13-6-10 for 49 points and cannot be caught by any clubs. The Supporters’ Shield is awarded annually to the club with the best regular-season record in Major League Soccer, regardless of conference (most overall standings points).

Chivas USA entered Week 32, the final week of the regular season, with a record of 13-9-6 and 45 points and was the only team that could have caught Columbus. The Crew had previously clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference and is guaranteed home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Crew has one regular season game remaining, this Sunday vs. New England at 6 p.m. at Crew Stadium (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes).

Columbus followed its 2008 MLS Cup championship season by posting the best regular-season record for the third time in club history. The Crew won its first Supporters' Shield in 2004 and is now one of two clubs to have won it three times (D.C. has 4). This marks the second time in the League’s 14-year history that a club has won consecutive Supporters’ Shield trophies. D.C. United accomplished the feat in 2006 and 2007. Last season marked the fourth time that the Supporters’ Shield winner went on to capture MLS Cup. 

Both two-game Crew playoff ticket packages and individual-game tickets are currently on sale at the Crew Stadium Box Office and all central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 800-745-3000 and on-line at TheCrew.com and Ticketmaster.com. Each package includes both of the Crew’s potential playoff games – the one guaranteed game in the first round and the Eastern Conference Championship, which it would host if it advances out of the first round.

Playoff pairings, dates and times have not yet been determined, but the Crew will have home-field advantage through the first two rounds of play – meaning it will host Game 2 of the first round, the weekend of Nov. 5-8, and the Eastern Conference Championship, the weekend of Nov. 12-15, should it advance. 

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