CREW UNBEATEN IN LAST THREE
The Crew enters Wednesday’s match at Philadelphia riding a modest three-match unbeaten streak (1-0-2) dating back to May 18 at Toronto ... a win at Toronto followed by the pair of draws has allowed for crucial Eastern Conference points as the Black & Gold play their next four matches against foes within their conference.
BUSY STRETCH CONTINUES
The Crew completes a stretch of four matches in 11 days when the Black & Gold travel to Philadelphia to take on the Union on Wednesday ... previously in this stretch, the Crew is unbeaten (0-0-2) in two MLS matches and also secured a Third Round victory over the Dayton Dutch Lions in U.S. Open Cup action ... the 11-day test began with the 2-2 draw on May 26 at New York before the May 29 Open Cup clash ... back in action after a 1-1 draw against Houston on June 1, Wednesday’s meeting at Philadelphia is followed by rest for the team ahead with bye weekend on June 8.
ALL EYES ON US...
The Crew and Union will have all eyes of Major League Soccer on the two clubs as Wednesday’s match is the only mid-week contest scheduled in League play ... this is the Crew’s first mid-week match in 2013 League play, but it is the second straight week of Wednesday action following the 2-1 win against the Dayton Dutch Lions on May 29 in U.S. Open Cup play ... the Black & Gold will get set for another mid-week match on Thursday, July 4 when the team travels to face the LA Galaxy, but the next Wednesday match for Columbus is not until Wednesday, September 4 against Houston at Crew Stadium.
PLENTY OF BROTHERLY LOVE FOR UNION MATCHES
The Crew plays its second and final match in the regular-season series against Philadelphia, looking to build off of its three-game unbeaten streak (2-0-1) against the Union dating back to 2012 ... the Crew defeated the Union 2-1 in its first-ever trip to PPL Park on August 5, 2010 and after the Union shut-out the Crew 1-0 in an April 14, 2012 clash back at PPL Park, the Crew responded with the beginning of the three-game unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win over the home side Union on August 29, 2012.
ANOTHER ROAD TEST FOR CREW...
The Crew returns to the road for Wednesday’s match at Philadelphia before a pair of home matches on June 15 (against Montreal) and June 22 (against Chicago) ... on the road this season, the Black & Gold have secured points in five of their first seven matches (3-2-2) ... the Crew’s winning percentage of .571 on the road is currently tied with Sporting KC for third-best in MLS behind only Montreal (.583) and League- leading Portland (.643).
... AND ANDY’S ONE OF THE BEST ON THE ROAD
Andy Gruenebaum has been the Crew’s starting ‘keeper in the first 13 matches of 2013 ... the Crew has seen success on the road (3-2-2) with plenty of thanks to Gruenebaum’s road performances in the first seven tilts away from Crew Stadium ... of the nine MLS goalkeepers in 2013 that have started at least seven road contests, Gruenebaum’s 1.00 road goals against average is second in the League behind only KC’s Jimmy Nielsen (0.86 GAA, 7 games played) ... two of Gruenebaum’s three shutouts this season have been on the road.
