SOLE 2015 REGULAR-SEASON TRIP TO RED BULL ARENA
Columbus Crew SC plays its 32nd Major League Soccer regular-season match in 2015 and its 16th on the road by traveling to Harrison, New Jersey to meet the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, October 3. It is the sole 2015 regular- season meeting between the two MLS originals at Red Bull Arena, and the first in nearly one calendar year, as Crew SC won by a 3-1 final in Harrison on October 19, 2014 behind Aaron Schoenfeld’s brace.
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On July 4, 2015, Crew SC defeated the Red Bulls by a 2-1 final at MAPFRE Stadium, with Ethan Finlay notching a brace in the win.
CREW SC CAN CLINCH POSTSEASON BERTH
With either a victory or a draw in this match against the Red Bulls, or a win or a draw by the Montreal Impact against Orlando City SC on Saturday 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.
LOOKING TO EXTEND CLUB-BEST ROAD STRETCH OF VICTORIES
Crew SC’s win against D.C. United two weekends ago at RFK Stadium was its fourth road victory in a row, a feat that the Black & Gold had never before accomplished in MLS regular-season play. Crew SC is looking to extend this club-best stretch to five wins in a row in this match at Red Bull Arena.
ROAD WARRIORS
By defeating D.C. United two weekends ago in the club’s last road match, Crew SC won its fifth MLS regular-season road match out of its last six. The Black & Gold are one of just six clubs this season to have won five road matches, joining the New York Red Bulls, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the San Jose Earthquakes, Orlando City SC and Portland Timbers FC. Crew SC is the only MLS club this season to win five out of six road matches over any timespan.
CLARK NEARING THE CENTURY MARK
Steve Clark made four saves last Saturday against Portland to bring him to 99 on the season. Clark notched 111 last year, and the Crew SC goalkeeper is one stop away from becoming the third goalkeeper in club history to register consecutive 100+ save seasons, potentially joining Jon Busch (104 in 2003, 132 in 2004) and Mark Dougherty (106 in 1999, 111 in 2000). Clark’s 99 saves rank third in MLS this season.
HIGUAIN APPROACHING CORNER KICKS RECORD
Federico Higuain recorded seven corner kicks on Saturday against Portland and has now totaled 134 on the season. That equals his own mark from last year, which is also the single-season club record. Higuain’s next corner will set a new single-season individual club record for most corners, breaking his own mark.
AHEAD OF THE PACE
With three regular-season matches to go in the 2015 campaign, Crew SC’s record of 13-10-8 (47 points) is ahead of last season’s mark to this point in the year, which was 11-10-10 (43 points). Crew SC currently ranks third in the Eastern Conference, tied on points with New England, and sits just one point out of the top spot, behind the New York Red Bulls, who have 48 points in 29 matches played.
FRANCIS NEARING 50
Crew SC defender Waylon Francis is one appearance/start away from reaching 50 in each category after joining Crew SC prior to the 2014 campaign.
AFFUL MAKING AN IMPACT
Since Harrison Afful’s MLS debut on August 19, 2015 at home against New York City FC, the Ghanaian defender has served 38 crosses from open play into the box, a figure that leads all of MLS over that timespan. Chris Tierney of the New England Revolution is second, with 33. Over that span, Crew SC’s Ethan Finlay is also fourth in the League in total open play crosses (26).
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 66th all-time regular-season match at the helm of the Black & Gold. Berhalter’s career regular-season record of 27-20-18 gives him a points-earned percentage of 50.8%, which is the highest career mark of any coach in club history.
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Saturday’s 7:00 p.m. ET start is available locally on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel. “Crew SC Matchday” on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel begins at 6:30 p.m. ET. Dwight Burgess and 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. Supporters can also listen to the match on the radio in English on ColumbusCrewSC.com 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 / LATAM, GOL TV / Dohar, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, BeIN Sports (ASIA AUS) / UK, SNTV.
