PEDRO PERFECT FROM THE PENALTY SPOT
Midfielder Pedro Santos recorded his fifth goal of the 2019 regular-season for Crew SC in Saturday's contest against Seattle Sounders FC. The goal came in the 13th-minute via a penalty kick, as Santos converted a penalty kick attempt following a foul inside Seattle Sounder FC’s box. The strike also marked Santos’ first penalty kick in regular-season action since joining the Crew. Santos played the entire 90 minutes, registering 52 touches and attempting 34 passes. In 2019, the midfielder has made 19 regular-season appearances (18 starts), while scoring five goals (one game-winning goal) and providing two assists (both game-winning assists). To date, Santos has scored six goals and recorded 11 assists since joining the Black & Gold in 2017.
AFFUL REACHES 100TH REGULAR-SEASON START
With his start in Saturday’s match, defender Harrison Afful recorded his 100th regular-season start for Crew SC. Afful played the entire 90 minutes, making two tackles, registering 78 touches, attempting 47 passes and finished with a passing percentage of 72.3. To date, Afful has made 103 regular-season appearances (100 starts) for the Crew, scoring five goals and recording 12 assists. In 2019, the defender has made eight regular-season appearances (all starts).
MENSAH AND GHANA REACH ROUND OF 16 AT AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
Defender Jonathan Mensah helped Ghana reached the Round of 16 at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Mensah made two appearances for the Black Stars in the tournament, coming in as a substitute in a match against Benin (June 25) and later starting against Cameroon (June 29). To date, Mensah has earned 60 caps for the Black Stars since making his debut in a friendly against Bosnia- Herzegovina in 2010 (March 3). In 2019, the defender has made 15 regular-season appearances (all starts). Since joining Crew SC ahead of the 2017 season, Mensah has made 68 regular-season appearances (66 starts) while scoring three goals and providing one assist.
ZARDES AND TRAPP HELP U.S. MNT TAKE SECOND PLACE AT THE 2019 CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Gyasi Zardes and Wil Trapp helped the U.S. Men's National Team reach the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Final. While the U.S. lost to Mexico to take second place at the tournament, both Zardes and Trapp featured for the Stars and Stripes at the Gold Cup. Zardes appeared in every match at the tournament, making six appearances (four starts) and scoring four goals, including a brace in a 6-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago (June 22) in a group stage match. Trapp made two appearances (one start), making a substitute appearance in a match against Guyana (June 18) and starting in a group stage contest against Panama (June 26) which the U.S. won 1-0.
ZARDES EARNS 50TH CAP FOR U.S. MNT
With his substitute appearance against Mexico in the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup Final (July 7), Gyasi Zardes earned his 50th cap for the U.S. Men's National Team. Zardes came in as a substitute for Jozy Altidore in the 64th minute. In 50 appearances with the Stars and Stripes since making his debut in a friendly against Chile in 2015, Zardes has scored 10 goals. Since joining Crew SC ahead of the 2018 MLS season, the forward has made 58 regular-season appearances, scoring 25 goals and providing one assist.
THE CREW SIGNS CURACAOAN GOALKEEPER ELOY ROOM
Columbus Crew SC announced last Friday that the Club had signed goalkeeper Eloy Room (pronounced AY-loy). The goalkeeper most recently played for PSV Eindhoven of the Netherlands’ Eredivisie and has made 160 appearances (159 starts) in the Dutch First Division. Notably, Room helped PSV win the 2017- 2018 Eredivisie as well as qualify to the UEFA Champions League. He was also a pivotal part of the Vitesse side that won the KNVB Cup during the 2016-2017 season, playing every match of the tournament to help the club win the title for the first time in its 125-year history. At the international level, Room has earned 30 caps for the Curacao National Team and won the 2017 Caribbean Cup. Room will occupy an international roster slot on Crew SC’s roster.
HAMILTON JOINS CREW SC FOLLOWING TRADE WITH TORONTO FC
Columbus Crew SC announced on Thursday that the club had acquired forward Jordan Hamilton, an international roster spot for the 2019 MLS season, $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and the Right of First Refusal for an unnamed player in exchange for forward Patrick Mullins. Hamilton, 23, is a six-year MLS veteran who has won an MLS Cup (2017), a Supporters’ Shield (2017) and three Canadian Championships (2016, 2017, 2018). At the international level, he has earned two caps with the Canada National Team.
CREW SC ACQUIRES ALLOCATION MONEY IN TRADE WITH ORLANDO CITY SC
Columbus Crew SC announced on Thursday that it had acquired potentially up to $150,000 in Allocation Money via a trade with Orlando City SC which sees midfielder Robinho join the Lions. Crew SC received $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) for the 2019 season, and should certain performance conditions be met the Black & Gold will also receive up to $50,000 in TAM in 2019 and up to $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) in 2020. Additionally, in the event Orlando City SC permanently transfer Robinho to a professional soccer club outside of MLS, Crew SC shall retain a percentage of a future transfer fee.
CREW SC ADDS DANTE WASHINGTON TO ITS FRONT OFFICE
Columbus Crew SC announced on Tuesday that it had named Dante Washington as its Director of Team Strategic Partnerships and Business Development. Washington most recently worked for Nationwide Insurance as a Senior Consultant in Strategic Partnerships Business Development. A former player, Washington spent six seasons with Crew SC, making 76 regular-season appearances (53 starts) while scoring 28 goals and providing 14 assists. In his new role, Washington will be in charge of youth player development affiliation outreach, alumni relations for the Club, establishing a mentorship program for Crew SC Academy players and other business opportunities to connect with the community.
CREW SC ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH IBM SERVICES AND IBM iX
On Wednesday, Crew SC announced an agreement with IBM Services [NYSE: IBM] and IBM iX™ to create a vision for the design and technology to transform the supporter experience at its new stadium. The Club and IBM are working together to develop a strategy for a supporter experience and the enabling technologies for the new Columbus Crew downtown stadium to provide an interactive experience for the players, coaches, staff and especially supporters of the Black & Gold. Under this project, IBM Services and IBM iX™ will provide a vision to define and create a unique, engaging environment for each individual fan, in the 20,000 seats and various premium spaces at the new 430,000-square-foot facility that’s scheduled to open to the public for the 2021 season.
KEITA NAMED TO 2019 MLS HOMEGROWN GAME ROSTER
In conjunction with Major League Soccer, Columbus Crew SC announced on Wednesday that defender Aboubacar Keita has been selected for the 2019 MLS Homegrown Game presented by Energizer®, as part of the festivities leading up to the 2019 MLS All-Star Game. The squad of Homegrown Players is set to take on Chivas de Guadalajara’s Under-20 Team at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, July 30 (5:00 p.m. ET / TUDN, Twitter.com). Keita is the fourth player in Club history to be named to an MLS Homegrown Game roster. Previously, Wil Trapp, Matt Lampson and Ben Swanson had been named to MLS Homegrown Game rosters.
