TODAY'S LINEUP
HEAD-TO-HEAD BREAKDOWN
Columbus Crew SC
- 2020 MLS Regular Season: 10-5-5
- Points: 35
- Points Per Game: 1.75
- Eastern Conference: Third
- Home: 8-1-0
- Away: 2-4-5
- Goals For: 31
- Goals Against: 17
- +/-: +14
Philadelphia Union
- 2020 MLS Regular Season: 13-3-5
- Points: 44
- Points Per Game: 2.1
- Eastern Conference: First
- Home: 9-0-1
- Away: 4-3-4
- Goals For: 41
- Goals Against: 18
- +/-: +23
CREW SC CURRENTLY TIED FOR FEWEST REGULAR-SEASON HOME LOSSES IN CLUB HISTORY
During the 2020 MLS regular season, Crew SC has posted a home record of 8-1-0*, which is currently tied with the Club's record for fewest home losses in a single regular season. The last time the Black & Gold lost only one game at home was during the 2001 season, when the Crew posted a home record of 7-1-5.
CREW SC ONE OF ONLY FIVE MLS TEAMS TO REACH THE MLS CUP PLAYOFFS 16+ TIMES
Columbus Crew SC officially clinched a spot in the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday, October 18 by virtue of its 3-1 win against New York City FC. This marked the Club’s 16th all-time postseason berth, making the Crew one of only five clubs to make the playoffs 16 or more times in the League’s 25-year history, behind only the New York Red Bulls (20), the LA Galaxy (19), FC Dallas (17) and Sporting Kansas City (17). Of those 16 playoffs berths, the Black & Gold have reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals on 13 occasions, the Eastern Conference Championships on seven occasions and MLS Cup in 2008 and 2015, winning the title in 2008.
GYASI ZARDES AMONG MLS GOLDEN BOOT RACE LEADERS
With 11 goals through 18 regular-season appearances in 2020, Gyasi Zardes is currently in second place in this year's MLS Golden Boot standings. The forward - who is scoring at a rate of 0.68 goals per 90 minutes - sits behind only Los Angeles FC’s Diego Rossi (13 goals).
MENSAH LEADS MLS IN SUCCESSFUL PASSES AND CLEARANCES
Through 20 regular-season appearances in 2020, defender Jonathan Mensah has made 1,163 successful passes and a total of 97 clearances, leading the League in both of those categories. In passes, the defender is ahead of LAFC's Eddie Segura (1,102) and the San Jose Earthquakes' Jackson Yueill (1,080). In clearances, Mensah surpassed Nashville SC's Walker Zimmerman (95) and the Philadelphia Union's Mark McKenzie (93) following Wednesday night's match at D.C. United.
MLS ANNOUNCES AUDI 2020 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS QUALIFICATION UPDATE
Major League Soccer confirmed on Thursday that multiple clubs will finish the season without playing the full 23 scheduled matches due to disruptions from COVID-19. As a result, qualification for the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs will be determined by points earned on a per match basis, or points per game. Prior to resuming the season following the MLS is Back Tournament, MLS stated in early August the league would use points per game as opposed to total points to determine playoff qualifiers in the case clubs played an uneven number of games. Points per game will also be used to determine the overall MLS standings, with the top U.S.-based team earning a berth in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. For Canada, the champions of the Canadian Championship, qualify for the Champions League.
