CREW SC TO HOST FC DALLAS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE SEASON
Columbus Crew SC plays its 28th 2015 Major League Soccer regular-season match and its 15th at MAPFRE Stadium by hosting FC Dallas on Sunday, September 6. This is the first and only meeting between Columbus and Dallas this season as well as the 44th overall between the two MLS originals. Crew SC is 18-16-9 against Dallas all-time, including a record of 12-4-7 against the Hoops in Central Ohio.
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On June 29, 2014 at MAPFRE Stadium, Crew SC and FC Dallas finished at a scoreless draw. Steve Clark kept a clean sheet for Crew SC, making one save.
HOME SWEET HOME
For this match, Crew SC returns to MAPFRE Stadium, where it has a record of 8-2-4 in the 2015 Major League Soccer regular season. The Black & Gold lead the Eastern Conference in goals scored at home, with 32. Only one other club across the League has cracked the 30-goal barrier at home: the LA Galaxy, with 36. Columbus’ home goal differential of plus-12 is tied for third in all of Major League Soccer.
CREW SC LOOKING TO CONTINUE HOME SUCCESS AGAINST FC DALLAS
The Black & Gold are unbeaten against FC Dallas in their last six encounters at MAPFRE Stadium, and have lost just one of the last 19 meetings between the two clubs at home.
HIGUAIN MOVING UP CLUB RECORD BOOKS
At New York City FC last Saturday, Designated Player Federico Higuain recorded a goal and an assist (the game-winning assist, to Justin Meram). In doing so, Higuain moved up a notch in the club record books for all three categories. His goal broke a tie with Guillermo Barros Schelotto in all-time club goal-scoring with his 34th, moving into solo sixth place in club history. Higuain’s assist broke a tie with Brian West, moving the Argentine into solo sixth place in club history in that category as well, with 30. The game-winning helper on August 29 was the Designated Player’s ninth all-time, breaking a tie in that category with Simon Elliott and Brian Maisonneuve to move into fifth place all-time Black & Gold history.
SECOND-HALF IMPACT
Following Cedrick Mabwati’s goal on August 19 against New York City FC, Jack McInerney’s tally on August 22 versus Sporting Kansas City and Justin Meram’s goal on August 29 at NYCFC, Crew SC has now received a goal from a substitute in three straight matches. Mabwati’s goal tied the match against NYCFC, while McInerney’s and Meram’s were game-winners.
CLARK NEARING GRUENEBAUM
Goalkeeper Steve Clark is now one win shy of tying Andy Gruenebaum for fourth place in club history at 26 wins. Clark recorded his 25th all-time win in Black & Gold at Yankee Stadium last weekend, making three saves.
900TH REGULAR-SEASON CLUB GOAL SCORED BY HIGUAIN
Federico Higuain’s first-half goal at Yankee Stadium was the 900th all-time regular-season goal in Crew SC history. Justin Meram added the 901st goal later in the contest. Entering the week, the Black & Gold rank fifth all-time in MLS team goal-scoring, trailing the LA Galaxy (1000), D.C. United (953), the New York Red Bulls (915) and this week’s opponent FC Dallas (913).
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Sunday’s 7:00 p.m. ET start is available nationally on FOX Sports 1. John Strong, Brad Friedel and Katie Witham have the call of the match. Fans can also listen to the match on the radio on Crew SC’s English-language radio partner CD102.5 FM, with Dwight Burgess and Neil Sika on the microphone, or in Spanish on La Mega 103.1 FM, with Juan Valladares. The contest will also be available on SiriusXM channel 85.
