CREW SC LOOKING TO EARN WIN OVER SPORTING KC AT HOME
Columbus Crew SC plays its 26th 2015 Major League Soccer regular-season match and its 14th at MAPFRE Stadium by hosting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, August 22. The Black & Gold are 21-24-6 all-time against Sporting, with a 12-11-4 mark in Central Ohio. In this contest, Crew SC is looking to snap a recent stretch of matches against Sporting that has seen the club go 0-5-1 over the past six meetings between the two.
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On July 16, 2014 at MAPFRE Stadium, Crew SC fell to Sporting by a 2-1 final. C.J. Sapong opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, with an own goal by Igor Juliao leveling it in the 69th. In the 93rd minute, Benny Feilhaber won it for Sporting with a goal assisted by Jacob Peterson and Juliao.
BLACK & GOLD CLOSE OUT TWO MATCH HOMESTAND
With this match, Crew SC finishes a two-match homestand that began on Wednesday evening, as the Black & Gold drew against New York City FC by a 2-2 final. This is the fifth and final stretch of two or more Major League Soccer regular-season home contests this year for Crew SC (including one series of three straight home matches). In the final match of the previous four 2015 regular-season homestands of at least two or more games, Crew SC has a record of 2-1-1.
KAMARA, WAHL FORMER MEMBERS OF SPORTING KC
Both forward Kei Kamara and defender Tyson Wahl are former members of this weekend’s opponent, Sporting Kansas City. Kamara joined Kansas City midway through the 2009 campaign and played there through 2013, scoring 38 goals and adding 20 assists. Wahl, meanwhile, began his MLS career with the then-Wizards in 2006, playing for the club for three seasons.
AFFUL DEBUTS FOR BLACK & GOLD
Against New York City FC on Wednesday, new Black & Gold Discovery Signing Harrison Afful made his club debut, starting at rightback and playing 60 minutes in the match. Afful tied midfielder Ethan Finlay for recording the most crosses from open play, with seven. Afful originally signed with the Black & Gold on July 30 after six seasons with Tunisian club Esperance Sportive de Tunis.
MABWATI OPENS CREW SC ACCOUNT
Against NYCFC, midfielder Cedrick Mabwati scored the game-tying goal in the 72nd minute, assisted by Kei Kamara. The tally was his first in Major League Soccer and his first in a Black & Gold shirt. The DR Congo native was making his third appearance for Crew SC after entering in the 67th minute.
KAMARA EDGES CLOSER TO BLACK & GOLD SHOTS, SHOTS ON GOAL, GAME-WINNING GOAL RECORDS
Forward Kei Kamara recorded three shots (one on goal) against New York City FC on Wednesday, giving him 110 shots and 46 shots on goal for the 2015 Major League Soccer regular season. Kamara is now six shots and one shot on goal shy of tying Stern John in 1998 for the all-time club single-season record in both categories. John notched 116 shots and 47 shots on goal over that 1998 campaign, in which he scored a club-record 26 goals. Kamara is also one game-winning goal shy of tying John’s six in 1998 for the all-time single-season record in that category.
FINLAY NOTCHES ASSIST AGAINST NYC, TIES FOR SECOND IN MLS
Crew SC midfielder Ethan Finlay registered an assist on Kei Kamara’s goal against New York City FC, pulling into a tie with Sporting Kansas City’s Benny Feilhaber for second in Major League Soccer, with 13. Through 25 games this season, Finlay’s 13 assists are a new career single-season high, surpassing last season’s breakout total of seven assists. Finlay’s four game-winning assists are also tied for the MLS high, as well as one short of the all-time club record (Guillermo Barros Schelotto in 2008, John Wilmar Perez in 2001 and Simon Elliott in 2004). Finlay also tied Jeff Cunningham in 2001 and Robert Warzycha in 2000 for the third-most single-season assists in Black & Gold history.
KAMARA IN THE AIR
Among all Major League Soccer forwards, nobody has attempted or won more aerials than Crew SC’s Kei Kamara. His 200 aerials attempted are 46 more than the next closest player, and his 112 aerials won are likewise 35 more than the closest competitor. San Jose’s Adam Jahn is the runner-up in both categories. Kamara’s 56% aerial success rate is second in all of MLS among players with at least 70 aerials attempted.
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 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.
