For the first time in over two months, Columbus Crew SC is taking the pitch to face another MLS club. The Black & Gold take on Sporting Kansas City tonight at 8 p.m. ET to kick off the Desert Diamond Cup in Tucson, Arizona.
The team is in Arizona for two weeks, playing four matches over the course of the tournament. In addition to Sporting, Crew SC is set to face Real Salt Lake, USL club Swope Park Rangers and one final opponent dependent on the results of the tournament. USL’s Arizona United and Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids are also competing in the Desert Diamond Cup this year.
With the recent signings of Corey Ashe, Conor Casey, Ola Kamara, Emil Larsen, Rodrigo Saravia and Amro Tarek, Crew SC has plenty of depth and talent at each position. Tonight’s match will be the first test for Columbus in determining the team’s strongest lineup.
Crew SC and Sporting KC met just once last year in a 3-2 Columbus win at MAPFRE Stadium. In thrilling fashion, the Black & Gold scored two goals in eight minutes to comeback with two minutes remaining in regulation. With less than a month until the 2016 MLS season, tonight's contest against Kansas City provides an opportunity for assessment and growth within the team.
Get excited, Columbus—it’s time to play some Black & Gold soccer.
