SAURO AND STEFFEN NAMED TO MLSSOCCER.COM’S TEAM OF THE WEEK
DefenderGaston Sauro and goalkeeper Zack Steffen were named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week following Crew SC’s 1-0 win over FC Dallas this past Saturday. During the match, Sauro scored the game-winning goal in the 10th minute. Notably, this is the second time this season that Sauro has been named to MLSSoccer.com's Team of the Week, as he had been previously named to the Team of the Week following Week 1. Steffen made two saves en route to posting his second shutout of the 2019 regular season and earning a spot on the Team of the Week.
MERAM REACHES 200TH REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCE WITH CREW SC
Midfielder Justin Meram recorded his 200th regular-season appearance for Crew SC in Saturday's home match against FC Dallas. Meram came into the match as a substitute for Robinho in the 78th minute of the match. The midfielder is currently fifth on the Crew's list of all-time regular-season appearances, behind only Chad Marshall (253), Mike Clark (221), Eddie Gaven (209) and Jeff Cunningham (203). With his appearance on Saturday, Meram is the only player on the current roster to have made 200 regular-season appearances for the Black & Gold.
ROBINHO MAKES FIRST REGULAR-SEASON START
Midfielder Robinho made his first regular-season start for Crew SC in Saturday's 1-0 win over FC Dallas. Robinho – who had made substitute appearances in the Crew’s two previous regular-season matches against the New York Red Bulls (March 2) and the New England Revolution (March 9) – played 78 minutes, had one shot (one on target), made five tackles and finished with a completed passes percentage of 89.
BLACK & GOLD AMONGST BEST DEFENSES IN MLS
Through three matches in the 2019 MLS regular season, Crew SC has only allowed one goal. The Black & Gold last allowed a goal during the sixth minute of a home contest against the New York Red Bulls (March 2), and have since gone 264 minutes without conceding a goal. The Crew has allowed the second-fewest goals in the League this season, behind only D.C. United (no goals allowed). Notably, Columbus' two clean sheets are the second-most in MLS this season, behind only D.C. United (three).
FIVE CREW SC PLAYERS AWAY ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Five Crew SC players are currently away on international duty with their respective national teams. In all, the Black & Gold will be represented in four different national team squads: Costa Rica, Iraq, the United States Men's National Team and the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team. Waylon Francis is currently with the Costa Rica National Team ahead of friendlies against Guatemala (March 22) and Jamaica (March 26). Justin Meram is with the Iraq National Team, having started and scored in the Lions of Mesopotamia's most recent friendly against Syria (March 20) and in anticipation of a friendly against Jordan (March 26). Wil Trapp and Gyasi Zardes are with the U.S. Men's National Team ahead of friendly matches against Ecuador (March 21) and Chile (March 26). Aboubacar Keita is currently with the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team in anticipation of friendlies against France (March 22) and Japan (March 25).
