CREW SC LOOKING TO CAPTURE TRILLIUM CUP ON SATURDAY
Columbus Crew SC plays its 22nd Major League Soccer regular-season match in 2015 and its 12th at MAPFRE Stadium by hosting Toronto FC in the second of three matches between the two sides this year. With a victory over the Reds on Saturday, Crew SC would capture the Trillium Cup for the sixth time in the eight-year history of the competition. The Black & Gold beat Toronto FC by a 2-0 fnal in their home opener on March 14 in the frst leg of the three-game rivalry series. Crew SC previously captured the Cup in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. The fnal leg of this season’s Trillium Cup rivalry series is set to take place on Saturday, October 17, at BMO Field in Toronto.
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On Saturday, March 14, Crew SC defeated Toronto FC 2-0 to take an early advantage in the eighth-annual Trillium Cup rivalry series between the two sides. Justin Meram scored the frst Black & Gold goal of the 2015 season in the 57th minute, and Kei Kamara doubled the lead just four minutes later as part of the clean sheet victory for Crew SC.
KAMARA MAINTAINS LEAGUE LEAD IN GOALS, SECOND IN SHOTS
Crew SC forward Kei Kamara scored his 14th goal of the season against Chicago on Sunday, continuing to lead MLS. Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto FC is now two behind, with 12 goals. Kamara also ranks second in MLS in total shots (91) and is tied for second in shots on goal (38).
FINLAY’S BREAKOUT CONTINUES
Since Ethan Finlay’s first MLS goal on May 17, 2014 in Portland, he has recorded 17 goals and 18 assists in MLS regular-season play over 44 matches after not recording any during his first 40 appearances. From that date until now, Finlay’s 35 combined goals and assists are second in all of MLS, trailing only 2014 Landon Donovan MVP Award winner Robbie Keane, who has 40 combined goals and assists. Finlay is one combined goal/assist ahead of New York’s Bradley Wright- Phillips (34) and four ahead of Seattle’s Obafemi Martins (31).
FRANCIS EXTENDS LEAGUE LEAD IN ASSISTS AMONG DEFENDERS
On Sunday against Chicago, Crew SC defender Waylon Francis provided the game-winning assist on Kei Kamara’s 17th-minute goal, his sixth assist of the season. That total extended the Costa Rican’s League lead in assists by a defender, two ahead of Sporting Kansas City’s Jalil Anibaba, D.C. United’s Taylor Kemp and Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Steven Beitashour. Francis is also one of 14 defenders in MLS to have created at least 13 chances.
DYNAMIC DUO
Kei Kamara and Ethan Finlay have combined for a total of 36 goals and assists, tops in Major League Soccer ahead of any other club’s leading duo by nine. Both Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore as well as Sporting Kansas City’s Krisztian Nemeth and Benny Feilhaber have combined for 27 goals and assists.
CARRYING THE LOAD
Kei Kamara has notched 14 of Crew SC’s 31 goals in the 2015 MLS regular season, for a total of 45%. Meanwhile, Ethan Finlay has assisted on 11 of the 31 tallies (35%). Of Finlay’s 11 assists, five have been to Kamara. Crew SC is now 7-0-4 when Kamara scores and 6-0-5 when Finlay assists.
KAMARA’S GAME-WINNERS
Kei Kamara scored the game-winner on Sunday against Chicago, his fourth game-winning strike of the season. That total is tied with D.C. United’s Chris Rolfe and Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco for the most in MLS this season.
DOLLAR NIGHT, BARSON’S BOOTS HIGHLIGHT SATURDAY’S MATC
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The ever-popular Dollar Night returns to MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday, with $1 bratwursts and $1 Budweisers for supporters 21-and-over. Also taking place on Saturday is the second-annual Barson’s Boots drive with Homegrown defender Chad Barson. Donations of new or gently-used soccer gear will be collected at Gate 5 on Saturday.
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.
