ACCAM MAKES FIRST REGULAR-SEASON START FOR CREW SC
Midfielder David Accam made his first regular-season start for Crew SC in Saturday’s road contest against Minnesota United FC. Accam had one shot, created one goal-scoring chance, made one tackle, recorded 45 touches and finished with a passing percentage of 82.8. Since joining Major League Soccer in 2015, Accam has made 111 regular-season appearances (84 starts), scoring 38 goals and providing 17 assists. Since joining Crew SC on May 8 of this year, he has made two regular-season appearances (one start).
KEMPIN MAKES 2019 REGULAR-SEASON DEBUT FOR CREW SC
Goalkeeper Jon Kempin made his 2019 regular-season debut for Crew SC in Saturday’s road contest against Minnesota United FC. Kempin started for the Black & Gold, making two saves on the night. Kempin joined the Crew ahead of the 2018 MLS season. To date, Kempin has made 20 regular-season appearances (19 starts) in MLS. Since joining Crew SC, Kempin has made six regular-season appearances (all starts) while registering 12 saves.
PLAYMAKER: FEDERICO HIGUAIN
Since making his debut for Crew SC on August 19, 2012, no other MLS player has created more goal-scoring chances (including assists) in regular-season action than midfielder Federico Higuain, per Opta. Over that span, the midfielder has created 549 goal- scoring chances, including 337 chances from open play – more than anyone else in the League – and 210 chances from set pieces, with Higuain behind only the Portland Timbers’ Diego Valeri (215) in that category. To date, Higuain has made 192 regular-season appearances (183 starts) for Crew SC, scoring 55 goals and providing 62 assists.
TRAPP: PASSING HIS WAY TO THE TOP
Wil Trapp is among MLS leaders in multiple individual passing categories, according to Opta. Trapp - one of only four players in MLS to have completed 500 or more successful passes in 2019 - is third in the league in attempted passes (982) behind only Toronto FC’s Michael Bradley (1046) and Los Angeles FC’s Eduard Atuesta (1113). Trapp is also among the top 10 across the League in three separate passing categories: He is ninth in passes in the opponents’ half (497) and 10th in both successful passes in own half (484), as well as passes into the final third (129).
PLAYERS TO MAKE THEIR CREW SC DEBUT IN 2019
Through 14 matches in the 2019 MLS regular season, five players have made their regular-season debut for Crew SC. Goalkeeper Joe Bendik, midfielders David Accam, David Guzman, Robinho along with forward JJ Williams have all made their regular-season debut for the Black & Gold this season. Bendik, Robinho and Williams all joined the Crew ahead of the 2019 regular season, while Accam and Guzman joined the Club on May 6 and May 8 of this year, respectively.
KEITA IN U.S. UNDER-20 WORLD CUP ROSTER
Defender Aboubacar Keita is currently in Poland with the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team as one of 21 players included in the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup. The U.S. is in Group B, alongside Nigeria, Qatar and Ukraine. For the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the top two teams of each group and the four best third-placed teams are set to advance to the Round of 16. Keita is a graduate of the Crew SC Academy, where he played from 2016-2018, featuring for the Under-17/18 and U-18/19 squads. The defender was signed by the Crew as a Homegrown Player on January 22, 2019.
FIVE CREW PLAYERS HAVE PREVIOUS UNDER-20 WORLD CUP EXPERIENCE
Crew SC's current roster boasts five players who have previously competed at a FIFA Under-20 World Cup: David Guzman, Jonathan Mensah, Zack Steffen, Wil Trapp and Milton Valenzuela. Guzman represented Costa Rica at the 2009 edition of the tournament, helping Los Ticos achieve a fourth-place finish. Mensah also featured in the 2009 U-20 World Cup, making six appearances en route to helping the Black Stars win their first U-20 World Cup. Steffen featured for the U.S. at the 2015 edition of the tournament, reaching the quarterfinals with the Stars and Stripes. Trapp represented the American squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, playing every minute of every group stage match for the U.S. Valenzuela represented Argentina in the 2017 edition of the tournament, featuring in two matches at the group stage.
EIGHT CREW SC PLAYERS AMONG THOSE IN THE 2019 MLS ALL-STAR GAME FAN XI BALLOT
Eight Crew SC players are among those nominated to the 2019 MLS All-Star Fan XI, presented by Target. Artur, Harrison Afful, Federico Higuain, Jonathan Mensah, Pedro Santos, Zack Steffen, Wil Trapp and Gyasi Zardes are the eight players who are eligible for selection by fans. Fans can vote for 10 of the 11 players once per day online at MLSSoccer.com/all-star/2019/vote. Voting ends at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on June 13. The 11th player will be determined through EA SPORTS FIFA 19 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC. Every MLS All-Star Ballot player that in player's starting lineup of any gameplay mode will count as one vote for the player. The player with the most starts will earn the final spot on the 2019 MLS All-Star Game Fan XI.
