CREW SC TO HOST TIMBERS FC FOR THIRD-TIME EVER
Columbus Crew SC plays its 31st 2015 Major League Soccer regular-season match and its 16th at home by hosting Portland Timbers FC on Saturday, September 26, at MAPFRE Stadium. Portland has only visited Central Ohio twice before in club history, with Crew SC winning by a 1-0 final in both previous matchups, on July 23, 2011 and on July 7, 2013.
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On May 17, 2014, Federico Higuain notched a brace, including a stunning chipped goal, and Ethan Finlay recorded his first career MLS goal as Crew SC drew against Portland by a 3-3 final.
CREW SC CAN CLINCH POSTSEASON BERTH THIS WEEKEND
With either a victory or a draw in this match against Portland, or a win or a draw by the New York Red Bulls against Orlando City SC on Friday night, Columbus would clinch a berth in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. Should Crew SC qualify for the postseason, it would mark the 13th all-time playoff appearance for the Black & Gold as well as the sixth berth for the club in eight seasons. That streak began in 2008, when Crew SC won the first professional championship for Columbus by capturing that season’s MLS Cup.
CLUB LEGENDS RETURN FOR “TOP TWENTY MOMENTS” UNVEIL
On Saturday, Crew SC is slated to host the return of multiple club legends in celebration of the final unveil of the club’s “Top Twenty Moments in Black & Gold” series. At halftime of the contest vs. Portland, moments five through one will be unveiled with Crew SC legends Mike Clark, Brian Dunseth, Brad Friedel, Frankie Hejduk, Stern John, Brian McBride, Alejandro Moreno, Duncan Oughton and Gino Padula scheduled to be in attendance.
MAPFRE STADIUM APPROACHING SELLOUT RECORD
Crew SC’s last home match, on September 6 vs. FC Dallas, was played in front of a sellout crowd of 20,217. It was the fourth sellout of the season at MAPFRE Stadium and the third time in stadium history that the venue was sold out for back-to-back Crew SC home matches, following a crowd of 20,018 on August 22 against Sporting Kansas City. The Black & Gold are one sellout away from tying the all-time single-season record for the most sellouts at MAPFRE Stadium, set in 2014 (five).
KAMARA AT 21 GOALS, IS THE 13TH MLS PLAYER TO HIT THAT TOTAL
By scoring his 21st goal of the 2015 MLS regular season last weekend at D.C. United, forward Kei Kamara built upon what is just the second 20-goal campaign in Crew SC history as well as the first since 1998. Forward Stern John scored 26 goals that year, which is the all-time single-season club record. Kamara is now one of 13 players to ever hit 21 single-season goals in the history of the League.
FINLAY’S LAST 53 MATCHES
Ethan Finlay’s first Major League Soccer regular-season goal came the last time Crew SC faced-off against Portland, on May 17, 2014 at Providence Park. Since that date, Finlay has notched all 20 career goals and 20 career assists over a 53-match span. He has notched at least one goal or one assist in 32 of the 53 contests and only two other MLS players have more combined goals and assists: Robbie Keane (29 goals, 20 assists) and Bradley-Wright Phillips (32 goals, nine assists).
AHEAD OF THE PACE
With four matches to go in the 2015 regular season, Crew SC’s record of 13- 9-8 (47 points) is ahead of last season’s mark to this point in the year, which was 11-9-10 (43 points). Crew SC currently ranks second in the Eastern Conference and sits just one point out of the top spot, behind the New York Red Bulls, who have 48 points in 28 matches played.
BERHALTER IS CREW SC’S ALL-TIME POINTS-EARNED PERCENTAGE LEADER
This weekend is set to be Crew SC Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter’s 65th all-time regular-season match at the helm of the Black & Gold. Berhalter’s career regular-season record of 27-19-18 gives him a points-earned percentage of 51.6%, which is the highest career mark of any coach in club history.
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 Chris Doran 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 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. The game can be watched internationally via the following: M. East & N. Africa, Abu Dhabi Sports / Europe (exl UK & Eire), Eurosport / Dohar, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, BeIN Sports (ASIA AUS) / UK, SNTV
