LAST MATCH: #CLBvPOR

HANSEN SCORES GAME-WINNER IN MLS DEBUT AGAINST PORTLAND

Crew SC notched its second consecutive victory of the regular season this past Saturday against the Portland Timbers. Although the visitors got an early lead through a goal by Dairon Asprilla (4’), Justin Meram leveled the score for the Black & Gold in the 11th minute. Ola Kamara then put the hosts ahead 2-1 by vollying a pass from Federico Higuain over Portland goalkeeper Jake Gleeson (19’). Fanendo Adi would score in stoppage time of the first half to send the teams into the break with a 2-2 scoreline. In the second half, rookie Niko Hansen - who came on as a substitute for Justin Meram - scored the game-winner in the 85th minute to give the Black & Gold the three points and their second consecutive win of the season.

CREW SC AND ORLANDO CITY SC AT A GLANCE

Columbus Crew SC regular-season record: 2-1-2 (13 GF, 10 GA)
Home games: 1-0-1 (5 GF, 2 GA)
Road games: 1-1-1 (8 GF, 8 GA)

LAST 3 REGULAR-SEASON MEETINGS

CREW SC TO FACE ORLANDO CITY SC FOR 1ST OF 3 MEETINGS

This weekend’s match marks the sixth all-time regular-season meeting between the two clubs, with the Black & Gold holding a 2-1-2 all-time record against Orlando. The Black & Gold have scored in each of their last three regular-season meetings against Orlando City SC and hold a record of 1-1-1 in that same span.

LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING

On September 17, 2016 Crew SC played Orlando City SC at Camping World Stadium. Crew SC took an early lead on an Ethan Finlay goal (6’), which was then extended through an own goal by Seb Hines’ (22’). Ola Kamara would then score a brace (44’, 90+5’) to put the result beyond doubt. Cyle Larin scored Orlando’s only goal in the 79th minute, making the final score 4-1 in favor of Crew SC.

Coaches

Gregg Berhalter (38-36-31, Columbus Crew SC: ‘14 - Present)
vs.
Jason Kreis (107-94-68, Real Salt Lake: ‘07-’13; New York City FC: 10-17-7; Orlando City: ‘16 - Present)

WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN

Saturday’s contest kicks-off at 4:00 p.m. ET and is set to be televised nationally on Unimas and Univision Deportes Facebook Page, with Jose Luis Lopez Salido, Raul Guzman, and Diego Balado Ramses Sandoval on the call in Spanish with Ivan Kasanzew to provide sideline reporting. Nicolas Cantor and Guad Venegas are set to be on the call in English. Locally, the contest is available via the radio in English on CD102.5 FM and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1 FM. The English radio broadcast is set to stream live on ColumbusCrewSC.com. The Spanish radio calls are also set to be streamed in Spanish on the LaMega1 App and via Tunein Radio as WVKO-FM. The game can be watched internationally via the following: Globosat, Abu Dhabi Sports, DSports, StarHub, BeIN Sports Asia, BeIN Sports Australia, Sportscast, Eurosport, and Sky Sports.

THOUGHTS ON THE MATCH AGAINST PORTLAND TIMBERS

“I think the idea was to send a message that we are a good team, that we can hurt teams, and I think we did that tonight.”

►Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter

BLACK & GOLD QUARTET NAMED TO MLS TOTW

Defender Harrison Afful and midfielders Artur, Federico Higuain, and Wil Trapp were named to MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week following their performances against the Portland Timbers on Saturday.

CREW SC LEADS THE WAY OFFENSIVELY

The Black & Gold led Portland in multiple categories during their match on Saturday. Per Opta, Crew SC had more shots (16 to Portland’s 11), more shots on target (seven to Portland’s five), more open play crosses (15 to Portland’s seven), more corner kicks ( five to Portland’s three), more chances created (12 to Portland’s eight) and a higher percentage of possession (64.4% to Portland’s 35.6%).

CREW SC ACQUIRE KEKUTA MANNEH FROM VANCOUVER

Columbus Crew SC announced this Thursday that the club has acquired forward Kekuta Manneh from Vancouver Whitecaps FC in exchange for midfielder Tony Tchani, $225,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $75,000 in General Allocation Money. Manneh, 22, is in his fifth Major League Soccer season and has made 101 regular- season appearances (62 starts) while scoring 22 goals and providing 12 assists. Per Opta, since joining MLS ahead of the 2013 season, only three other players have scored more goals from fast breaks than Manneh’s four goals. Additionally, Manneh has completed the seventh highest number of dribbles (155) since the beginning of the 2013 MLS season.

HANSEN MAKES SEASON DEBUT, SCORES

On Saturday night, Crew SC rookie Niko Hansen scored the game-winning goal against Portland. In doing so, he became the first Crew SC rookie to score a game- winning goal in his MLS debut. The midfielder - who came on as a substitute for Justin Meram in the 60th minute - scored the game-winner in the 84th minute after pouncing on a loose ball inside the area.

“It feels great. It took a little bit of figuring out to see if it was real. It’s unbelievable, there’s so many people you want to thank in that moment - my family, the fans and the team of course,”

►Midfielder Niko Hansen 

The University of New Mexico product, who was selected in the First Round (Ninth overall) of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by the Black & Gold on January 13, 2017, is the third rookie to make his debut for Crew SC in the 2017 MLS regular season.

OLA KAMARA SCORES HIS 3RD CONSECUTIVE GOAL

Forward Ola Kamara tallied his third goal of the season and his 19th goal for Crew SC in 24 appearances (29 starts) by scoring the second goal in Saturday’s victory over Portland. The forward was involved in all three of Crew SC’s goals on Saturday and has now tallied three goals in three consecutive matches for Crew SC in the 2017 regular season after previously scoring against Houston (March 11) and D.C. (March 18). Last season, he scored 16 goals in 25 appearances (20 starts). Kamara has made four appearances (all starts) this season.

PLAYMAKER: FEDERICO HIGUAIN

Argentine midfielder Federico Higuain put on quite the display against the Portland Timbers this past weekend, proving that he seems to thrive when playing against them. According to Opta, he created six scoring chances - half of the Black & Gold’s total for the night- on Saturday night, four more than any other player on the field during the match. The playmaker also managed two shots on the night - both on goal- and completed 65 passes, the third most out of anyone on either team. Higuain’s performance was good enough to earn him a spot in MLSSoccer.com’s Team of the Week.

On Higuain’s performance, Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter had the following quote post-game:

“In terms of his effectiveness he’s a phenomenal player and I think that he showed that today. The ability [of Higuain] to pick out passes, to be secure on the ball, to bring his teammates into the game was pretty good tonight.”

►Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter

The Argentine is currently the all-time leader in multiple categories for Crew SC against Portland including: goals (3), assists (4), and shots (18).

“To be honest, I like to play against good teams,”

►Midfielder Federico Higuain 

CREW SC: PASSING ITS WAY TO THE TOP

Four matches into the 2017 MLS season, Crew SC leads the League in passes (2103) and completed passes (1729) while holding the second highest passing accuracy percentage in the League (82.22%) according to Opta. The Black & Gold also lead the League in passes in the opponent’s half (1,256) and successful passes in the opponent’s half (963). Additionally, Crew SC is in second place when it comes to passes into the final third with 277. Per Opta, Wil Trapp has attempted and completed the highest number of passes for the Black & Gold (279 out of 307) as well as the most passes in the opponent’s half out of anyone in the club. Trapp also has a passing accuracy percentage of 90.88%, the highest on the team out of players who have attempted 50 or more passes this season.

Trapp On the mood following the win against Portland

“We have to continue to put the same effort and the same amount of accountability to keep this run going. So we’re not relaxing, we’re not resting in our laurels, we’re attacking this week.”

►Midfielder Wil Trapp

JUKKA RAITALA EARNS 37th CAP FOR FINLAND

Defender Jukka Raitala started for Finland in a friendly match against Austria on April 8, 2017. The 28-year-old played the full 90 minutes to help Finland get a 1-1 draw and earned his 37th cap with Finland.