CREW SC WINS FIFTH CONSECUTIVE HOME MATCH
With its 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids this past Saturday, Crew SC extended its home-match winning streak to five consecutive matches, dating back to a 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake on June 30. In addition to defeating Colorado and Real Salt Lake, the Black & Gold have also defeated Orlando City SC (July 21), the Houston Dynamo (August 11) and New York City FC (September 1) at home over that span, outscoring them by a combined total of 10-5.
FORTRESS: MAPFRE STADIUM
Since the beginning of the 2017 MLS regular season, no other MLS team has registered more wins at home in regular-season action than Columbus Crew SC. Over that span, the Black & Gold have posted a winning home record
of 22-5-5, tallying 71 points and outscoring opponents 63-36. In 2018, Crew SC has posted a winning regular-season home record of 10-2-3, outscoring opponents 29-19 over that span. Notably, the Black & Gold have scored in all but one home match at MAPFRE Stadium this season.
GYASI ZARDES SCORES AGAINST THE COLORADO RAPIDS, REACHES GOAL-SCORING MILESTONES
Gyasi Zardes scored the opening goal for Crew SC in Saturday’s match against the Colorado Rapids, his 50th regular-season goal since he joined MLS in 2013. The strike was also Zardes’ 16th goal of the 2018 MLS regular season, equaling his career-high for most goals in a single season, which he had previously achieved in 2014 with the LA Galaxy. Zardes’ goal came in the 17th minute when he received a pass from Federico Higuain and put the ball past Colorado keeper Tim How- ard. Additionally, the forward is now one of only six players in Black & Gold history to score 16 or more goals in a single regular season. Zardes joined Crew SC via a trade with the LA Galaxy prior to the beginning of the 2018 MLS regular season, and he has since made 29 regular-season appearances for the club. Since making his MLS debut in 2013, Zardes has made 160 regular-season appearances (145 starts) registering 17 assists along with his 50 goals.
CLARK MAKES 350TH MLS REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCE
Midfielder Ricardo Clark made his 350th MLS regular-season appearance in Saturday’s 2-1 home win over the Colorado Rapids. Clark came in as a substitute for Artur in the 67th minute of the match getting 28 touches and attempting 27 passes with a 92.6 percent accuracy. Since joining the League in 2003, Clark has made 325 regular-season starts, tallying 36 goals and 28 assists. Clark joined the Black & Gold ahead of the 2018 MLS season and has made 13 regular-season appearances (eight starts), scoring one goal and providing one assist.
CREW SC NEARING 300TH ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON WIN
With its 2-1 in over the Colorado Rapids this past Saturday, Crew SC now has 299 regular-season victories dating back to the inaugural 1996 MLS season. Should the Black & Gold defeat the Philadelphia Union, the club would join the LA Galaxy (326 wins) and FC Dallas (304 wins) as one of only three clubs in MLS history to have won 300 or more regular-season matches.
