Columbus Crew SC hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps at MAPFRE Stadium this Saturday. Get set with match notes ahead of the contest.
LAST THREE REGULAR-SEASON MEETINGS
03/09/2013 CLB 1 at VAN 2 L: BC Place
05/10/2014 CLB 0 vs. VAN 1 L: MAPFRE Stadium
04/08/2015 CLB 2 at VAN 2 D: BC Place
CREW SC CONCLUDES STRETCH OF MATCHES AGAINST WEST
On Saturday, Sept. 10, Columbus Crew SC hosts Vancouver Whitecaps FC at MAPFRE Stadium in the sides' first meeting since April 8, 2015 as well as their first match in Central Ohio since May 10, 2014. All-time, Columbus is 2-3-1 against Vancouver, including a 1-2-0 mark at home.
This match concludes a string of three consecutive matches for Crew SC that sees the club take-on Western Conference sides over the span. Crew SC defeated the San Jose Earthquakes by a 2-0 final at MAPFRE Stadium on Aug. 27 before traveling to the StubHub Center last weekend to face the LA Galaxy in a match that the home side won 2-1. Following this clash against Vancouver, Columbus then concludes the 2016 regular season with seven straight matches against Eastern Conference foes.
TICKETS: #CLBvVAN
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On April 8, 2015, Crew SC traveled to BC Place to play Vancouver for the sixth all-time regular-season meeting between the two clubs in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw. Steve Clark made six stops for Columbus in the clash.
JAHN NOTCHES TALLY FOR COLUMBUS IN LA
In Crew SC's last regular-season match, last weekend at the LA Galaxy, forward Adam Jahn registered his second Black & Gold goal, scoring in second-half stoppage time. Jahn has now scored two goals over his last three appearances for Columbus. Acquired by Crew SC on July 30, 2016 from San Jose in exchange for Targeted Allocation Money, Jahn is one of 10 different players to have recorded a goal for Columbus in the 2016 regular season.
SAURO RETURNS FOR COLUMBUS WITH START IN LA
At the StubHub Center last weekend, Crew SC defender Gaston Sauro made his return to the lineup following a PCL injury. Playing for the first time since May 21 at Toronto FC, Sauro recorded 45 minutes in a start at center back.
WATCH: Gaston Sauro on #CLBvVAN
CREW SC INTERNATIONAL ROUNDUP
Last week, Crew SC announced that four of its players had received international call-ups. Harrison Afful (Ghana), Justin Meram (Iraq), Rodrigo Saravia (Guatemala) and Tony Tchani (Cameroon) all joined their respective federations, with all four earning caps for their countries.
PARKHURST LEADS ALL DEFENDERS IN PASSES
Among all League defenders, Michael Parkhurst has completed the most passes during the 2016 regular season, with 1,135. Afful ranks fifth in the League in the category, with 945.
BLACK & GOLD LEAD MLS IN PASSING ACCURACY
According to Opta, Crew SC currently leads all of Major League Soccer in passing accuracy, having recorded an 82.54 percent completion rate through 26 regular-season matches. Columbus also leads the League in completed passes per match, at 400.46, as well as ranks second in attempted passes per match, at 485.19.
WATCH: Corey Ashe on #CLBvVAN
CREW SC CRACKS 20-SHOT BARRIER AT LA
In Crew SC's last MLS match, on Sept. 3 at LA, the Black & Gold fired 20 shots, eclipsing the 20-shot barrier for the third time in the 2016 regular season. Crew SC's season-high in shots is 22, attempted on July 23 at MAPFRE Stadium against Orlando City SC. Twenty shots is a road season-high for Columbus as well as the most Crew SC has registered on the road since it also recorded 20 shots on April 13, 2014 at San Jose. The Black & Gold have now registered 20 or more shots in a road regular-season match on 11 different occasions in club history.
CLARK APPROACHING 100 REGULAR-SEASON STARTS, APPEARANCES
By starting last weekend at LA, Clark made his 94th career Major League Soccer regular-season start and appearance. Clark has started every regular-season match for Crew SC since his arrival to the club prior to the 2014 season. Nearing the century milestone, Clark would become just the second goalkeeper in Columbus history to make 100 regular-season starts, joining William Hesmer (130). With 34 career regular-season victories, Clark is also one win shy of tying Jon Busch for second place in all-time club history at 35.
WATCH: Gregg Berhalter on #CLBvVAN
FINLAY NEARING 30-30 STATUS
With 28 career regular-season goals and 26 career regular-season assists, Crew SC midfielder Ethan Finlay is two goals and four assists shy of reaching "30-30" status for his MLS career. Finlay would become just the fifth person in Crew SC history to reach that total for the club. Should he reach the milestone, he would join Brian McBride (62 goals, 45 assists for Columbus), Jeff Cunningham (64 goals, 44 assists), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (33 goals, 41 assists) and Federico Higuain (39 goals, 35 assists) in the 30-30 club.
CREW SC AMONG MLS's BEST IN POSSESSION, CHANCES CREATED PER MATCH
According to the League’s official statistician, Opta, Columbus Crew SC ranks second in the League in possession (55.55 percent) and third in MLS in chances created per match (10.58). Columbus is one of eight clubs in the League averaging more than 10 chances created per match.
