FORMER COLUMBUS CREW SC GOALKEEPER JON BUSCH SIGNS A ONE-DAY CONTRACT TO RETIRE AS A MEMBER OF THE BLACK & GOLD
On Thursday, Crew SC signed former goalkeeper Jon Busch to a one-day contract to officially retire a member of the Black & Gold. Busch will be recognized at the beginning of halftime at Saturday’s Crew SC match when the Black & Gold take on the Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium. Busch, 41, played for Crew SC from 2002-2006 and won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as the 2004 Supporters’ Shield. A winner of the 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, Busch made a total of 309 regular-season appearances (308 starts) in MLS from 2002-2015 and earned one cap with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
CREW SC UNDEFEATED IN LAST FOUR REGULAR-SEASON MATCHES
Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union brought Crew SC undefeated streak to four consecutive matches in the 2018 MLS regular-season. The Black & Gold have not lost since an April 14 match against D.C. United, posting a record of 2-0-2 since then. This is the second time in 2018 that Crew SC have gone undefeated in four consecutive matches, with the club having started the season with a record of 3-0-1.
BLACK & GOLD CONTINUES TO SCORE AT HOME
With Gyasi Zardes’ game-winning goal against the Philadelphia Union, Crew SC extended its regular-season goal-scoring streak at home to 13 consecutive matches, dating back to a 1-0 home victory over the Philadelphia Union on July 22, 2017. Over that span, the Black & Gold have compiled a regular-season winning record of 10-1-2 at home, outscoring opponents 26-13. In 2018, Crew SC has a regular-season home record of 4-1-1 while outscoring opponents 14-8.
GYASI ZARDES SCORES GAME-WINNING GOAL AGAINST THE PHILADELPHIA UNION
Gyasi Zardes scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday’s 1-0 home victory over the Philadelphia Union at MAPFRE Stadium. Zardes scored the goal in the 53rd minute, when he got ahold of a loose ball inside Philadelphia’s penalty box and tapped it in to give the Black & Gold the lead. With his strike, Gyasi brought his total to six goals in 11 regular-season appearances (all starts) for Crew SC in 2018. Additionally, it was Gyasi’s 40th goal in MLS regulars eason action. Since joining the League in 2012, Gyasi has made 142 regular-season appearances (127 starts) while registering 40 goals and 17 assists.
CREW SC RECORDS FOURTH SHUTOUT OF 2018 MLS REGULAR SEASON
With the 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union in Wednesday’s home contest, Crew SC recorded its second consecutive shutout and its fourth clean sheet of the 2018 MLS regular season. The Black & Gold had previously earned clean sheets against Toronto FC (March 3) in a 2-0 win at BMO Field, against the Philadelphia Union (March 17) in a 0-0 draw at Talen Energy Stadium and against Seattle Sounders FC in a 0-0 draw at CenturyLink Field.
ZACK STEFFEN REGISTERS FOURTH CLEAN SHEET OF 2018 MLS REGULAR SEASON
Zack Steffen registered his fourth shutout of the 2018 MLS regular season in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union at MAPFRE Stadium. Steffen recorded three saves on the night en route to earning his third clean sheet against the Union and he is now the goalkeeper with the most reegular-season shutouts against Philadelphia in Crew SC history. In 2018, Steffen has made 10 regular-season appearances (all starts), while registering 16 saves and four shutouts. Since joining the Black & Gold in 2016, Steffen has made 44 regular-season appearances (all starts), recording 114 saves and 13 shutouts.
GYASI ZARDES TIED FOR SECOND-MOST GOALS IN MLS
Through 11 matches in the 2018 MLS regular season, forward Gyasi Zardes has tallied six goals. Zardes’ six strikes tie him with Miguel Almiron (Atlanta United FC), Dom Dwyer (Orlando City SC) and Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls) for second most goals in the League, behind only Josef Martinez (Atlanta United FC), who has scored seven goals.
