The Black & Gold are climbing their way back up the Eastern Conference table after a 3-0 victory over the reigning 2016 Major League Soccer Cup champion, Seattle Sounders FC, on Wednesday May 31 at MAPFRE Stadium. Crew SC now travel west on a quick turnaround to take on the Colorado Rapids, who current sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, on Saturday June 3 for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
Saturday will be the first and only meeting between the cross-conference opponents during the 2017 regular-season and their 40th meeting overall. Crew SC holds an overall 12-18-10 record against the Rapids. Last season, the two teams met in an eventual 1-1 draw on May 14 at MAPFRE Stadium. The Black & Gold opened the scoring first when Cedrick Mabwati buried a pass from Harrison Afful in the 23rd minute. The Rapids answered in the second half with a 55th-minute Kevin Doyle equalizer. This match was also Ola Kamara’s first start for the Black & Gold.
Kamara is currently tied with midfielder Wednesday's fan voted Acura Man of the MatchJustin Meram for the most goals this season (8).
The Rapids, who were three points shy of the Supporters’ Shield title last season, have reversed their luck this year and currently sit in last place in the West with their 3-8-1 overall record. However, a glimpse of their fortune from last year was on display after their 1-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City, who had been at the top of the Western Conference, in last week’s matchup. Thanks to an early 11th minute goal by rookie defender, Kortne Ford, and a relentless backline, the Rapids were able to hold off Sporting KC for the remainder of the match.
The Black & Gold return home to MAPFRE Stadium to host the Montreal Impact on Saturday, June 24 for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
The Black & Gold will also welcome German Bundesliga-side and DFB Pokal-finalist Eintracht Frankfurt to MAPFRE Stadium for an international friendly on Monday, July 17. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m.
