CREW SC TO PLAY SECOND LEG AT RED BULL ARENA
Columbus Crew SC continues its 13th all-time Major League Soccer postseason run by facing-off against the New York Red Bulls in the 2015 Eastern Conference Championship. The match concludes the third-ever postseason series meeting between the two MLS originals, with the Black & Gold winning both prior match-ups: the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals and MLS Cup 2008.
CREW SC LOOKING TO ADVANCE TO MLS CUP
A two-legged series with aggregate scoring and away goals as the first tie-breaker, the Eastern Conference Championship continues with this Second Leg at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, November 29. This is the sixth time in club history that Columbus Crew SC is playing in the Eastern Conference Championship, following 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002 and 2008. The Black & Gold are looking to advance to MLS Cup for the second time in club history and the first time since 2008. Following a 2-0 First Leg win, Crew SC would advance with any win, draw, one-goal loss or two-goal loss in which it scores at least one goal.
MLS ORIGINALS TO CONCLUDE SERIES
Crew SC has met its fellow MLS original New York in two prior postseason series: the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals and in MLS Cup 2008. In 1998, the Black & Gold battled the then-MetroStars in a best-of-three series, winning the first match 5-3 at Ohio Stadium before sweeping the series with a 3-2 victory in penalty kicks following a 1-1 scoreline in normal time at Giants Stadium. In 2008, Crew SC won its first-ever MLS Cup with a 3-1 win over the Red Bulls at the then-Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
ALL-TIME MAPFRE STADIUM ATTENDANCE RECORDS SET IN FIRST LEG
For the First Leg at MAPFRE Stadium, the match attendance of 21,617 was the largest-ever home postseason attendance in Columbus Crew SC history, surpassing the previous record of 20,883 on September 22, 2001 against San Jose. It was the first official sellout in Black & Gold home postseason history. Combining the regular season and the postseason, the sellout was Crew SC’s sixth of the season, setting a new single-year club record. Ahead of the match, Crew SC announced that it had added temporary bleachers to the stage on the north side of the venue in response to the supporter demand.
MERAM STRIKES FOR FASTEST-EVER MLS CUP PLAYOFFS GOAL
Crew SC forward Justin Meram scored nine seconds into the First Leg against the Red Bulls at MAPFRE Stadium on Sunday, September 22, setting a new all-time MLS Cup Playoffs record for the fastest goal. Previously, the record was also held by Columbus, as Adrian Paz scored 26 seconds in on September 28, 1996 at Tampa Bay. Those two goals are also the only first-minute goals in MLS postseason history.
FIRST-EVER BLACK & GOLD POSTSEASON MATCH AT RED BULL ARENA
Crew SC is slated to travel to Red Bull Arena for the first time in the MLS Cup Playoffs for this match. The fifth-ever postseason meeting between these two clubs, all five matches have been played at dfferent venues (Ohio Stadium, Giants Stadium, Home Depot Center, MAPFRE Stadium, Red Bull Arena).
CHECKING THE CALENDAR
By playing this contest on November 29, Columbus Crew SC is slated to play its latest-ever match in MLS regular-season or postseason play by calendar date. Previously, the Black & Gold’s latest-ever match on the calendar was its MLS Cup 2008 showdown against the Red Bulls on November 23, 2008. Crew SC has never played a regular-season match in November; its latest-ever regular-season contest is October 28, 2012 against Toronto FC.
KAMARA REGISTERS TEAM-LEADING THIRD POSTSEASON GOAL
Kei Kamara’s second-half tally in the First Leg of this series against New York was his fourth-ever postseason goal and his team-leading third goal of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.
KAMARA FINALIST FOR LANDON DONOVAN MVP AWARD
In addition to capturing this season’s MLS Humanitarian of the Year presented by Advocare award, Crew SC forward Kei Kamara remains a finalist for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award. An MLS All-Star and Crew SC’s Barbasol Most Valuable Player in 2015, Kamara’s 22 goals tied for the regular-season Major League Soccer lead this season. His regular-season totals of 135 shots, 57 shots on goal and seven game-winning goals set new all-time single-season club records.
PIPA FROM THE CORNER
Columbus Crew SC Designated Player and playmaker Federico Higuain fired-in 10 corners in the First Leg match-up against the Red Bulls on Sunday, November 22, setting a new Black & Gold record for most-ever corner kicks in a single postseason match. Previously, Freddy Garcia held the record with nine corners on October 6, 2002 against New England. In the First Leg, the Black & Gold hit 10 corners as a team for the fourth-ever time in the postseason, with all three previous occurrences coming in the 2002 season.
KAMARA, PARKHURST BRING CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE
Both Kei Kamara and Michael Parkhurst have played in MLS Conference Championships prior to this season. In 2011, Kamara started for Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference Championship against the Houston Dynamo, leading the club in shots with five. Crew SC Captain Michael Parkhurst started three consecutive Eastern Conference Championship contests from 2005 through 2007, helping the Revolution win all three contests by identical 1-0 scorelines.
SAURO AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
After serving a one-match suspension in the First Leg for postseason yellow-card accumulation accrued in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Crew SC defender Gaston Sauro is available for selection in this Second Leg at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, November 29.
OFFICIAL CREW SC VIEWING PARTY PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER
For this Second Leg of the Eastern Conference Championship, Crew SC is hosting an official viewing party, presented by Budweiser, at the Arena District’s Three-Legged Mare in downtown Columbus. Starting at 7:00 p.m. ET ahead of a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, the viewing party is open to supporters of all ages. Budweiser draught pints will be on-sale to supporters 21-and-over for $2.50 during the party. Additionally, the 2008 MLS Cup will be on-hand for photo opportunities and supporters can participate in the Crew SC squares game for a chance to win great Black & Gold prizes like apparel, autographed memorabilia and more. The first 50 supporters in attendance will also receive a free Crew SC hat.
Sunday’s 7:30 p.m. ET start is available via national television on FS1, with John Strong, Alexi Lalas and Julie Stewart-Binks on the call. Locally, the contest is available via the radio in English on CD102.5 FM and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1 FM. Dwight Burgess and Neil Sika are set to have the call of the match on CD102.5, with Juan Valladares on the microphone on La Mega 103.1. A complete list of places to catch the Black & Gold on TV is available here. The game is also slated to be broadcast internationally via the following outlets: M. East & N. Africa, Abu Dhabi Sports / Africa, FOX / USA, FOX 2 Go via Peform / Brazil, Globosat / China, LETV / Europe (exl UK & Eire), Eurosport / LATAM, FOX / Doha, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, BeIN Sports (ASIA AUS) / Indonesia, Philippines, BeIN Sports (ASIA) / Taiwan, Sportcast / UK & Eire, Sky Sports / UK, SNTV / Singapore, Starhub.
