CREW SC LOOKING TO FINISH 2015 MLS REGULAR-SEASON SERIES AGAINST LIONS UNBEATEN
Columbus Crew SC plays its 23rd 2015 Major League Soccer regular-season match and its 11th on the road by traveling to Central Florida to face Orlando City SC at the Orlando Citrus Bowl. This is the third of three Major League Soccer regular-season matches between the two clubs this season, and the fourth meeting across all competitions. Crew SC is 1-0-1 all-time in regular-season play against the Lions following a 3-0 win in the inaugural match between the two on April 18 and a 2-2 draw in the club’s first-ever match at the Citrus Bowl on May 30.
CREW SC ON TURF UNDER BERHALTER
Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, Crew SC has played seven regular-season matches at MLS’ five current stadiums featuring artificial turf (Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, New England, Orlando). In those seven matches, the Black & Gold have earned points in six of them (record of 2-1-4).
UNBEATEN START AGAINST LIONS
Should the Black & Gold win or draw this weekend, it would mark the third time that the club went unbeaten in its first three meetings against any given MLS team (Crew SC went 3-0-0 in its first three matches against Philadelphia and Real Salt Lake).
CLARK TIED FOR MLS LEAD IN SAVES
Crew SC goalkeeper Steve Clark made four saves against Toronto FC and is now tied for the MLS lead in the category (72). The 2000 Tampa Bay Mutiny are the only MLS team in League history to finish the season with the League leader in goals, assists, and saves. Crew SC currently has the League leader in all three categories and can become the second club in MLS history to achieve that feat.
CREW SC SIGNS GHANAIAN INTERNATIONAL AFFUL
On Thursday, July 30, Columbus Crew SC announced that it had signed defender and Ghanaian international Harrison Afful. He joins the Black & Gold following six seasons in the Tunisian topflight with Esperance Sportive de Tunis. During his tenure with Esperance, the defender won four Ligue Professionelle 1 titles as well as the 2011 CAF Champions League, in which he scored the gamewinning goal. He has also represented Ghana at the international level, earning 53 caps, including two at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“It’s a great challenge I have taken in, and I am ready to deliver for the club. It’s a short time being here, but I believe in God and I believe in myself because I’m always a winner. I always want to win and I always want to fight. I like challenges because when you challenge with somebody, it makes you grow on a higher level for you to be at the top. I’m very happy to be here and I hope I will do well.”
KAMARA, FINLAY, FRANCIS FEATURE IN 2015 AT&T MLS ALL-STAR GAME
On Wednesday, July 29, at the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, Crew SC players Kei Kamara, Ethan Finlay and Waylon Francis each played 45 minutes in the MLS All-Stars’ 2-1 defeat of Barclays Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Kamara notched one shot in the contest. It was the first active roster MLS All-Star appearance for all three players. Kamara was originally selected to the gameday roster by Rapids and MLS All-Star Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni on July 18, while Finlay and Francis were added as injury replacements on July 28. It was the first time Crew SC had three All-Stars since 2008 and the first time the club had three active roster All-Stars since 2004, when the game followed an East vs. West format.
LAMPSON, SWANSON APPEAR IN 2015 CHIPOTLE MLS HOMEGROWN GAME
On Tuesday, July 28, Crew SC Homegrown Players Matt Lampson and Ben Swanson each played 45 minutes in the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Colorado. Both players recorded 45 minutes in the game, which was won by Mexico’s Club America Under-20 squad in penalties. Swanson notched one shot and Lampson caught two crosses in the match. Crew SC joined Colorado as one of two MLS clubs to have multiple representatives in the game both this season and last season, as Lampson and Wil Trapp participated in 2014.
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. ET start is available locally on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. “Crew SC Matchday” on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel begins at 7:00 p.m. ET. Dwight Burgess, Neil Sika and Ashleigh Ignelzi are set to have the call of the match at 7:30 p.m. ET. A complete list of places to catch the Black & Gold on TV is available here. Fans can also listen to the match on the radio on Crew SC’s English-language radio partner CD102.5 FM or in Spanish on La Mega 103.1 FM.
