After a three-week break from regular-season play, Columbus Crew SC (5-9-2, 17 pts.) are set to host Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, June 23 at MAPFRE Stadium.
The Black & Gold are coming off of a 3-2 loss against Atlanta United that eliminated the Club from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday. While Crew SC did not get the result, head coach Caleb Porter was encouraged by the fight that his players showed.
“The group is really fighting and giving everything,” he said. “They are bought in. I am really pleased with that. We are going to need that in the games coming up.”
In the past two matches, Crew SC has been without some of its usual starting lineup, including Wil Trapp, Gyasi Zardes, Zack Steffen, and Jonathan Mensah, who are on international duty. This has provided the opportunity for some different players to step up and fill in.
“We are learning about guys who haven’t played a major role and see who is going to emerge. This group is really bought in right now,” said Porter. “We need to harness that a little bit. I want to see that in this next game.”
Along with different players stepping up, the Black & Gold also has some players returning from injury. After sitting out for two months with a fractured jaw, defender Harrison Afful has been able to gain some minutes in Open Cup play. Having him back, allows Crew SC to add more layers to the group.
“It is the same me. Getting forward. Putting in crosses. Trying to also to score,” Afful said. “I just have to be ready any time to help the Club.”
As for the opponent, Sporting Kansas City (3-5-7,16 pts.) currently sit in tenth in the Western Conference standings. They were eliminated in the Fourth Round of the Open Cup, when Minnesota United FC came back to beat them 4-1 on Wednesday, June 12.
Sporting KC provides Crew SC with an opportunity to continue the fighting spirit and relentless attitude as SKC has dropped 11 points from a winning position, the second most in the League.
“I think from now; every game is like a final,” said midfielder David Accam. “We have to treat every game like it is our last game of the season. I know we have quality in the group and for us, we need to be more aggressive and have the mindset that we can win every game.”
Sunday will be the Black & Gold’s second of three regular-season home matches in the month of June. The Club wants to treat these home matches as must-wins.
“We are not happy that we haven’t gotten three points in every home game,” Porter said. “It is important that we win the games we have. Can we go unbeaten in the last home games? That needs to be the goal. And we know we are going to win games on the road as well.”
Kickoff on Sunday is slated for 5:30 p.m. ET at MAPFRE Stadium. Fans can tune-in on FOX Sports Ohio or 97.1 FM The Fan or stream the match on FOX Sports GO as well as stream the audio on www.ColumbusCrewSC.com.
