ZARDES REGISTERS FIRST BRACE OF 2019 REGULAR SEASON
Forward Gyasi Zardes recorded his first two goals of the 2019 regular season during Saturday’s road contest against the New England Revolution. Zardes’ first goal was a header that came in the 26th minute after getting on the end of a cross from midfielder Pedro Santos. The forward made it a brace in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time, as he received a low cross from midfielder Hector Jimenez which he then put past New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton. With the two strikes in Saturday’s match, Zardes has now scored 21 regular-season goals in 35 regular-season appearances (all starts) for Crew SC.
PORTER AND ZARDES NAMED TO MLSSOCCER.COM’S TEAM OF THE WEEK
Crew SC Head Coach Caleb Porter and forward Gyasi Zardes were named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week following the Crew’s 2-0 win over the New England Revolution this past Saturday. This was the first time that Porter received the honor since joining Crew SC, and the victory over the Revs marked Porter’s first regular-season win as Crew SC's Head Coach. Zardes was named to the team after bagging a brace and scoring his first two goals of the 2019 MLS regular season. In 2018, Zardes was named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week on five occasions. Last week, defender Gaston Sauro was named to the Team of the Week following his performance in Opening Match against the New York Red Bulls (March 9).
STEFFEN EARNS FIRST SHUTOUT OF 2019 REGULAR SEASON
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen recorded his 20th regular-season shutout during Saturday’s 2-0 road victory over the New England Revolution. The goalkeeper made three saves against the Revs – including saving a penalty kick attempt taken by Diego Fagundez – en route to earning his first clean sheet of the 2019 MLS regular season.
STEFFEN SAVES FIRST PENALTY KICK ATTEMPT OF 2019
During Saturday’s contest against the New England Revolution, Zack Steffen made a penalty kick save to help Crew SC maintain a clean sheet. Steffen saved a penalty kick attempt from Diego Fagundez in the 59th minute, diving to his right to parry the shot. The save was his first regular-season penalty kick save since saving an attempt taken by New York City FC’s David Villa at Citi Field (October 22, 2017). In all, Steffen has saved four regular-season penalty kicks of the nine attempts he has faced in MLS dating back to April 22, 2017.
STEFFEN NOTCHES ASSIST AGAINST THE NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Zack Steffen managed to get on the scoresheet in Saturday’s road match, as he provided a secondary assist on Gyasi Zardes’ second goal. Steffen played a long ball over the top to midfielder Hector Jimenez, who then sent a low cross for Gyasi Zardes to make it 2-0 in the sixth-minute of second-half stoppage time. The assist was Steffen’s second helper since joining the Black & Gold, as he had previously been awarded a secondary assist during a home match against the Montreal Impact (June 24, 2017). Notably, Steffen is now the all-time leader in assists among Crew SC goalkeepers.
JIMENEZ MAKES FIRST REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCE OF 2019, REGISTERS ASSIST
Midfielder Hector Jimenez made his 2019 regular-season debut in Saturday’s match against the New England Revolution, coming in as a substitute for Pedro Santos in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Jimenez made an immediate impact, as he provided the assist on Gyasi Zardes’ second goal of the day just three minutes after taking to the field, helping the Black & Gold to a 2-0 victory. This was Jimenez’s 15th assist in 103 regular-season appearances (67 starts) for the Black & Gold. Additionally, the helper was Jimenez’s 21st assist since joining MLS in 2011.
SANTOS RECORDS FIRST ASSIST OF 2019 REGULAR SEASON
Midfielder Pedro Santos recorded the game-winning assist in Saturday’s 2-0 win over the New England Revolution. The helper came in the 26th minute, when Santos crossed the ball to Gyasi Zardes from the left flank, allowing Zardes to head it in. The assist was Santos’ first helper of the 2019 regular season as well as his 10th all-time regular-season assist for the Black & Gold. Since joining the Crew, Santos has made 41 regular-season appearances (39 starts), while scoring one goal to go with his 10 assists.
MERAM NEARING 200TH REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCE WITH CREW SC
Saturday’s road contest against the New England Revolution marked midfielder Justin Meram’s 199th regular-season appearance (143rd start) for Crew SC. Meram is currently fifth on the list of all-time regular-season appearances for the Club, behind only Chad Marshall (253), Mike Clark (221), Eddie Gaven (209) and Jeff Cunningham (203). Meram's next more regular-season appearance would make him the only player on the current roster to have made 200 regular-season appearances for the Black & Gold.
HIGUAIN NEARING ALL-TIME CREW SC REGULAR-SEASON ASSISTS RECORD
Since joining Crew SC in 2012, midfielder Federico Higuain has provided 59 assists in regular-season action. The Argentine is second on the Crew's list of all-time regular-season assists leader, behind only Robert Warzycha (61). Should Higuain notch three more helpers this season, he would become Crew SC’s all-time leader in this category.
