CREW SC FINISHES STRETCH OF THREE MATCHES IN EIGHT DAYS AGAINST SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Crew SC finishes its stretch of three matches in eight days on Saturday, when it hosts Seattle Sounders FC at MAPFRE Stadium. The Black & Gold began their stretch on Saturday, June 29 when they hosted Orlando City SC, before traveling to face Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday, July 3. Saturday's contest will feature post-match fireworks, presented by MAPFRE Insurance.
KEITA MAKES FIRST REGULAR-SEASON START FOR CREW SC
Defender Aboubacar Keita made his first regular-season start – as well as his first regular-season appearance – for Crew SC during Thursday’s road contest against Real Salt Lake. Keita played the entire 90 minutes, making one tackle, six clearances and winning five duels. A Crew SC Academy product, Keita was signed to the First Team as a Homegrown Player on January 22, 2019. Earlier this season, Keita spent some time on loan with USL League One side the Richmond Kickers, where he made three appearances (two starts). Notably, Keita is the third Crew SC Academy product to make at least one regular-season start for Crew SC this season, as Wil Trapp and Alex Crognale have also started for the Crew in 2019.
KEITA BECOMES THIRD-YOUNGEST PLAYER TO START FOR CREW SC
With his start in Thursday’s contest, Aboubacar Keita became the third-youngest player (19 years, 88 days) to make a regular-season start for the Black & Gold, behind only Tim Ward (19 years, 60 days) and Danny Szetela (17 years, 117 days). Additionally, he also became the fifth-youngest player to make a regular-season appearance for the Club, behind only Tim Ward (19 years, 60 days), Aaron Horton (19 years, 20 days), Ben Swanson (18 years, 319 days) and Danny Szetela (17 years, 61 days).
CREW SC FEATURES YOUNG SIDE AGAINST REAL SALT LAKE
During Wednesday's road contest against Real Salt Lake, Crew SC’s starting XI featured five players under the age of 25: Alex Crognale (24), Niko Hansen (24), Eduardo Sosa (23), JJ Williams (21) and Aboubacar Keita (19). Additionally, Luis Argudo (23) and Artur (23) both made substitute appearances in tonight’s contest, bringing the total of Crew SC players under the age of 25 to feature in tonight’s match to seven.
CROGNALE REACHES 25TH REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCE WITH CREW SC
Alex Crognale made his 25th regular-season appearance with Crew SC during Wednesday's road match against Real Salt Lake. The defender played the entire 90 minutes, made three clearances and had two shots. Crognale, a Crew SC Academy product, joined Crew SC as a Homegrown Player on December 20, 2016. To date he has made 15 regular-season starts to go with his 25 regular-season appearances, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
ROBINHO: IRON MAN
Until Wednesday's road contest against Real Salt Lake, in which he did not play, midfielder Robinho had featured for Crew SC in every competitive match since the beginning of the 2019 season, the only player to do so for the Black & Gold. In his 1,093 minutes of regular-season action – 10th-most for the team – Robinho leads Crew SC in completed dribbles (44) and attempted dribbles (91). Robinho joined Crew SC ahead of the 2019 season and has made 18 appearances (13 starts) while providing two assists in regular-season action while making two appearances (one start) in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
MENSAH AND GHANA ADVANCE TO THE ROUND OF 16 AT AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS
With its 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bisseau on Wednesday, Ghana clinched its sport in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing in first place of Group F, ahead of Cameroon (five points), Benin (three points) and Guinea-Bissau (one point). Jonathan Mensah played a role in helping the Black Stars advance, as he made two appearances for Ghana, coming in as a substitute in a match against Benin (June 25) and later starting against Cameroon (June 29). To date, Mensah has earned 60 caps for the Black Stars since making his debut in a friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2010 (March 3). In 2019, the defender has made 15 regular-season appearances (all starts). Since joining Crew SC ahead of the 2017 season, Mensah has made 68 regular-season appearances (66 starts) while scoring three goals and providing one assist.
STEFFEN AND ZARDES HELP U.S. MNT ADVANCE TO GOLD CUP FINAL
Zack Steffen and Gyasi Zardes both featured for the U.S. Men’s National Team in Wednesday’s 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal match against Jamaica. Steffen started the match, his 14th cap with the U.S., and registered three saves en route to helping the Stars and Stripes defeat Jamaica 3-1. Zardes made a substitute appearance, coming in for Jozy Altidore in the 56th minute to earn his 49th cap with the U.S. With the result, the U.S. Men’s National Team reached the Gold Cup final - set to take place Sunday, July 7 - where it will face Mexico, marking the sixth time the two nations will face each other in the final of the tournament. Additionally, midfielder Wil Trapp is also on the U.S. Men's National Team 23- man roster for the tournament, having made two appearances (one start) in the tournament, en route to earning his 19th cap with the Stars and Stripes. Updated as of July 3, 2019
CREW SC ACQUIRES ROMARIO WILLIAMS IN TRADE WITH ATLANTA UNITED
Crew SC announced on Monday that the club had acquired forward Romario Williams from Atlanta United in exchange for $100,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM). Williams, 24, has earned 13 caps with the Jamaica National Team and scored two goals. The forward will be formally added to Crew SC’s roster upon the opening of the transfer window on July 9, 2019.
THE CREW ACQUIRES MIDFIELDER LUIS DIAZ FROM CLUB SPORT HEREDIANO OF COSTA RICA
Columbus Crew SC announced on Tuesday that the club had acquired Costa Rican winger Luis Diaz from Club Sport Herediano of Costa Rica’s First Division as a Young Designated Player. Diaz, 20, was recently named the Best Under-21 Player in the Torneo Clausura 2019 by UNAFUT – Costa Rica’s union of First Division soccer clubs – and won the Torneo Apertura 2018 with Herediano. Diaz will officially be added to the Black & Gold roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa upon the opening of the transfer window on July 9, 2019 and will occupy an international roster slot on Crew SC’s roster.
