First Kick 2009 is Saturday at Crew Stadium vs. Rival Toronto FC

The Columbus Crew will open its 2009 MLS home schedule this Saturday, March 28, as it hosts Toronto FC for First Kick 2009 at Crew Stadium. The match will also be the first leg of the 2009 Trillium Cup competition and will be the first opportunity for most fans to check out the defending MLS Cup champs in person.

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).

First Kick 2009 festivities this Saturday at Crew Stadium will involve several features, including a commemorative coin giveaway. The coin, which celebrates the Crew’s 2008 MLS Cup championship, will be distributed to fans upon entry, while supplies last. The Crew will also unveil new championship banners in the stadium’s upper northeast corner and as part of its championship perks this season, the Crew will play with a special silver ball beginning this weekend and continuing throughout the season at Crew Stadium. Finally, a special Trillium Cup ceremony honoring the Crew will take place during halftime of the match.

Saturday's match, which kicks off at 4 p.m. ET, will be televised live locally on ONN-TV, with Dwight Burgess and Bill McDermott calling all the action. The game can also be heard in English on News/Talk 610 WTVN with Neil Sika and John Bluem behind the microphone and on-line at TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com, as well as in Spanish on La Que Buena 1550-AM, featuring Carlos Cordova and Benny Pietrangelo on the call.

Toronto enters the match after defeating Kansas City, 3-2, in its opening weekend match last Saturday (March 21). Defender Jim Brennan put Toronto in the lead late in the first half and Amado Guevara scored the first of two goals in the 53rd minute to double the Reds’ lead, before K.C.’s Davy Arnaud tallied just two minutes later to halve Toronto's lead. Guevara followed by notching the eventual game-winner in the 62nd minute. The Wizards’ Arnaud tried to rally the Wizards with a second goal in the 76th minute, but K.C. couldn’t find the match equalizer before the final whistle.

The Black & Gold enters Saturday’s match after drawing with Houston, 1-1, on the road last Saturday, in a match that featured the last three MLS Cup champions. After a first half in which neither side was able to draw first blood, Houston took the lead in the 53rd minute, when Chris Wondolowski sprung Brian Ching with a pass behind the Crew defense, which Ching poked home for his first goal of 2009. The Crew responded in the 82nd minute when rookie midfielder Alex Grendi sent a diagonal pass to second half substitute Jason Garey at the top of the box. Garey nodded the ball down to a wide open Guillermo Barros Schelotto who calmly slotted the ball inside the left post and into the back of the net to bring the Black & Gold even.

COLUMBUS CREW vs. Toronto FC
Saturday, March 28 – 4 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium
National Television: N/A; Local Television: ONN-TV
Crew Radio: News/Talk 610 WTVN (English); La Que Buena 1550-AM (Spanish)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)

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