CREW SC COULD CLINCH SPOT IN AUDI 2018 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS
Crew SC is on the verge of clinching a spot in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. The Black & Gold can secure a berth in the playoffs by defeating Minnesota United on Sunday or by virtue of the Montreal Impact either drawing or losing to the New England Revolution. Should Crew SC advance to the playoffs, it would mark the 15th all-time postseason berth for the Black & Gold as well as the seventh berth for the club in the last ten seasons. Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, Crew SC has reached the playoffs four out of five seasons, reaching the 2015 MLS Cup as well as reaching the Eastern Conference Championship in 2017.
CREW SC UNDEFEATED IN LAST SIX MATCHES AT HOME
Crew SC is undefeated in its last six home matches heading into Decision Day, presented by AT&T. The last time the Black & Gold lost at MAPFRE Stadium was on June 13, when they fell 2-0 against Atlanta United FC. Since then, Crew SC has posted a 5-0-1 record, defeating Real Salt Lake (June 30), Orlando City SC (July 21), the Houston Dynamo (August 11), New York City FC (September 1) and the Colorado Rapids (September 22) as well as drawing with the Philadelphia Union (September 29). Over that span, the Black & Gold have outscored their opponents 10-5 while posting two clean sheets.
STEFFEN COULD EQUAL CLUB RECORD FOR MOST SHUTOUTS IN A SINGLE SEASON
Following his shutout against the Philadelphia Union on September 29, goalkeeper Zack Steffen is now only one clean sheet away from equaling the Crew SC club record for most shutouts in a single regular season. The current record was set by William Hesmer in 2011, when he registered 11 shutouts. Zack Steffen is currently tied with Jon Busch (2004) and William Hesmer (2008) for second place in the list of most shutouts in a single season for Crew SC. Steffen’s nine shutouts last season also earned him the fifth-place spot on that same list.
WILLIAMS ON THE VERGE OF MAKING 100TH START FOR CREW SC
Defender Josh Williams is on the verge of making his 100th regular- season start for Crew SC. Williams – who was with the Black & Gold from 2010-2014 before returning ahead of the 2017 season – has made 99 regular-season starts for the club (113 regular-season appearances), scoring seven goals and notching four assists. Should Williams start against Minnesota United FC on Sunday, he would be one of only four players on Crew SC’s current roster to have made 100 or more regular-season starts for the club, joining Federico Higuain (170), Wil Trapp (152) and Justin Meram (140). In 2018, Williams has made 20 regular-season appearances (15 starts).
CREW SC NEARING 300TH ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON WIN
Crew SC currently has 299 regular-season victories dating back to the inaugural 1996 MLS season. Should the Black & Gold defeat Minnesota United FC on Sunday, they would join the LA Galaxy (328 wins), FC Dallas (305 wins) and the New York Red Bulls (301) as one of only four clubs in MLS history to have won 300 or more regular-season matches.
GYASI ZARDES: LETHAL AT HOME
Forward Gyasi Zardes – who joined Crew SC ahead of the 2018 MLS season – has scored 16 goals in regular-season action this year, equaling his single-season career high in goals which he achieved in 2014. Of Zardes’ 16 goals, 14 have come at home, with the forward scoring in all but five of Crew SC’s regular-season home matches in 2018. Similarly, all three of Zardes’ braces have come at MAPFRE Stadium, as the striker registered braces against the Montreal Impact (March 10), the Chicago Fire (May 12) and Orlando City SC (July 21).
