EDUARDO SOSA MAKES FIRST REGULAR-SEASON START FOR CREW SC, SCORES FIRST CAREER GOAL
Midfielder Eduardo Sosa made his first regular-season start for Crew SC in Saturday’s contest against Real Salt Lake. Sosa, who joined the Black & Gold ahead of the 2018 MLS regular season, also scored his first career goal for the club, as he struck the game-winning goal in the 23rd minute, when he received a pass from midfielder Pedro Santos. Sosa’s goal was nominated for MLSSoccer.com’s Goal of the Week, while his performance against Real Salt Lake earned him a spot in MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week. Since joining the club, Sosa has made five regular-season appearances (one start), registering one goal.
GYASI ZARDES SCORES 11TH GOAL OF 2018 MLS REGULAR SEASON
During Saturday’s contest against Real Salt Lake, forward Gyasi Zardes scored his 11th goal of the 2018 MLS regular season. Zardes scored the goal by converting a penalty kick in the sixth minute of the match, following a foul on midfielder Luis Argudo. The strike marked Zardes’ second penalty kick goal of the year, as he had previously converted a penalty kick in a home contest against the Montreal Impact (March 10). In 2018, Zardes has made 19 regular-season appearances (all starts), registering 11 goals.
BLACK & GOLD DEFEATS DEPORTIVO SAPRISSA IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY AT MAPFRE STADIUM
On Tuesday, Crew SC defeated Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica’s topflight 2-0 in an international contest disputed at MAPFRE Stadium. The start of the match was delayed due to inclement weather in Central Ohio. After the delay, both teams then agreed to two 30-minute halves. The Black & Gold won thanks to goals by Gyasi Zardes (28th minute) and Josh Williams (32nd minute).
GYASI ZARDES REACHES MLS MILESTONE
Forward Gyasi Zardes achieved a career milestone in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake, as he made his 150th regular-season appearance in MLS. Since joining the League in 2013, Zardes has made 150 regular-season appearances (135 starts), scoring 45 goals and providing 17 assists. In 2018, Zardes has made 19 regular-season appearances (all starts), registering 11 goals. Zardes also leads Crew SC in regular-season minutes played (1,688) in 2018.
ZARDES REMAINS IN MLS GOLDEN BOOT RACE
With his goal against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, forward Gyasi Zardes brought his 2018 MLS regular season total to 11 goals and is now tied with Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls) for second-most in MLS, behind Josef Martinez’s (Atlanta United FC) 17 goals.
HARRISON AFFUL AND PEDRO SANTOS EACH REGISTER AN ASSIST AGAINST REAL SALT LAKE
Defender Harrison Afful and midfielder Pedro Santos both registered an assist in Saturday’s contest against Real Salt Lake. The two players combined to help set up midfielder Eduardo Sosa’s 23rd-minute goal, as Afful headed a ball to Santos, who slid it across for Sosa to send it to the back of the net. The helper was Afful’s second and Santos’ fourth assist of the 2018 MLS regular season. In 2018, Afful has made 18 regular-season appearances (all starts), scoring one goal and providing two assists. Santos has made 15 regular-season appearances in 2018, recording one goal and providing four assists.
ABU, HANSEN AND SANTOS NEARING MLS MILESTONE
Midfielders Mohammed Abu, Niko Hansen and Pedro Santos are all on the verge of making their 25th regular-season appearance for Crew SC. Abu and Hansen joined Crew SC ahead of the 2017 MLS regular season, while Santos joined the club in August of that same year. Should Abu, Hansen or Santos play against the LA Galaxy, they would join 10 players on the current Crew SC roster to have made 25 or more regular-season apearances for the club.
