Columbus Crew SC will face LA Galaxy for the 40th time in franchise history on Saturday, when the Black & Gold host the current MLS Cup Champions at MAPFRE Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
Crew SC holds a slim 16-14-9 advantage in the all-time series and aims to improve that record as it pursues its playoff push. Over the years, the series has created some special moments. We wanted to share five of our favorites.
Aug. 28, 1996 – Welcome to Columbus!
Prior to this matchup, the two clubs split their first two meetings of the League’s inaugural season, both of which took place in Southern California. When LA made its way to Columbus for the first time, the club ran into a red-hot Black & Gold group that had ripped off five consecutive wins... and the streak didn’t end there.
Crew SC tacked on goals at both ends of the match with a ninth-minute score by Paul Caligiuri and a 72nd-minute goal courtesy of Brian McBride. Robert Warzycha assisted on both goals. Los Angeles only mustered up four on-target shots, all of which were handled by goalkeeper Pat Harrington to spur Crew SC to the 2-0 win. The Black & Gold went on to extend their winning streak to eight matches.
Oct. 24, 2002 – Black & Gold clinch U.S. Open Cup title
The Galaxy had won their first MLS Cup in club history just three days prior to meeting Columbus for the U.S. Open Cup final. The match was a tightly-contested and physical one, as the two sides combined for 34 fouls and Crew SC’s Chad McCarty was sent off in the 83rd minute after picking up his second yellow.
LA held a 19-10 advantage in shots, but Freddy García, who did not register a goal during MLS play, put Crew SC up 1-0 in the 30th minute. The score would remain that way for the duration of the match to send Crew SC to its first U.S. Open Cup title.
April 2, 2005 – Crew SC opens its season with a bang
Three goals on eight shots is an impressive ratio, if you ask us. Crew SC wasted no time hopping onto the score sheet when Edson Buddle redirected a Manny Lagos cross into the back of the net in the eighth minute. Buddle secured a brace in the 47th, just seven minutes prior to Ante Razov scoring goal No. 3 of the evening.
Los Angeles held advantages in shots (14-8) and corners (6-2), but only three shots required goalkeeper Jon Busch’s attention in this 3-0 shutout.
June 23, 2007 – 10 men, no problem
This match was bonkers, complete with loads of scoring opportunities, two failed penalty kicks and one ejected Ezra Hendrickson. The Vincentian international, that’s Saint Vincent and the Grenadines if you were unaware, was issued a red card after an aggressive challenge on LA defender Ian Russell in the 29th minute.
Chad Marshall and Ned Grabavoy scored the match’s first two goals to put Crew SC up 2-0 by the 58th minute. The final half an hour saw three more goals, including a stoppage-time goal from former Crew SC forward Edson Buddle. Peter Vagenas came close to equalizing three minutes later, but thanks to a diving save by Williams Hesmer Crew SC would hang on for the 3-2 win.
Aug. 16, 2014 – Big crowd, big win
A sell-out crowd of 20,729 in Columbus witnessed one of Crew SC’s most prolific offensive performances of 2014. Four different players scored each of the club’s four goals in Crew SC’s 4-1 rout of the Galaxy.
The Black & Gold scored their goals in bunches. Justin Meram and Ethan Finlay scored just 10 minutes apart from one another in the first half (23’ and 33’), while Ben Speas and Giancarlo González followed suit with goals just nine minutes apart (75’ and 84’).
This Saturday’s match will be LA's first trip back to Columbus since the lopsided loss, and we would love to see you there. Click here to get your tickets... they are going fast.
