CREW SC TO CONCLUDE EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS AGAINST IMPACT
Columbus Crew SC continues its 13th all-time Major League Soccer postseason run by facing-off against the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. This is the first time that Columbus and Montreal have ever met for an MLS postseason series.
FIRST LEG RECAP
Federico Higuain scored in the 33rd minute, but Montreal’s Patrice Bernier (37’) and Johan Venegas (77’) scored to give the Impact a 2-1 edge following the First Leg.
MATCH SCENARIOS
A two-legged series with aggregate scoring and away goals as the first tie-breaker, the Eastern Conference Semifinals conclude following this Second Leg between Columbus and Montreal. Following Montreal’s 2-1 win in the First Leg, Crew SC would guarantee advancement for itself with a 1-0 victory or any win by two or more goals. A 2-1 victory for the Black & Gold would send the match to extra time and potentially penalties. The winner of this series advances to the Eastern Conference Championship to take-on either the New York Red Bulls or D.C. United.
HOME COOKING
Crew SC is set to play its 17th all-time home postseason match. The Black & Gold are 9-6-1 in postseason matches played in Central Ohio all-time, including a record of 6-4-1 at MAPFRE Stadium in those contests. Columbus has scored at least two goals in each of its last five home postseason clashes.
LAST TIME AT HOME
Crew SC won its last home match by a 5-0 score on Decision Day over D.C. United (October 25). In the win, Crew SC scored five goals for the seventh time in club regular-season history and for the first time since October 26, 2003, when it registered six tallies against Chicago. Additionally, the five-goal margin of victory equalled the club regular-season record, achieved two times previously: August 8, 1998 against New England and June 16, 2001 against Tampa Bay (both 6-1 wins).
HIGUAIN SCORES SECOND CAREER POSTSEASON GOAL WITH TALLY AT MONTREAL
With his First Leg goal at Montreal, Designated Player Federico Higuain scored his second postseason tally in as many games. Higuain previously scored against New England in the First Leg of the 2014 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
CREW SC LOOKING TO ADVANCE TO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
By earning a bye from the Knockout Round of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, Columbus Crew SC directly qualified for the Eastern Conference Semifinals. All-time, in this round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Columbus has an 11-11-2 record. The Black & Gold have qualified for the Eastern Conference Championship five times previously (1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2008).
POSTSEASON DEBUTS FOR FOUR MEMBERS OF BLACK & GOLD
In the First Leg at Montreal last weekend, four members of Columbus Crew SC made their MLS postseason debuts: Harrison Afful, Kevan George, Cedrick Mabwati and Gaston Sauro. Afful and Sauro started the contest, while George and Mabwati entered as substitutes.
FINLAY, KAMARA SET COLUMBUS DUO RECORD
In 2015, Ethan Finlay (12 goals, 13 assists) and Kei Kamara (22 goals, eight assists) totaled 55 combined goals and assists between them. That is the most ever combined goals and assists by a Black & Gold duo in a single regular season in club history.
KAMARA FINISHES REGULAR SEASON IN EXCLUSIVE CLUB WITH 22 NON-PENALTIES
In the 2015 regular season, Kei Kamara’s 22 non-penalty goals led MLS by three goals over Sebastian Giovinco, who had 19 non-penalties. In Major League Soccer history, only three other players have recorded more non-penalty goals. Among them is Crew SC legend Stern John, who shares the all-time record with 25 non-penalties in 1998.
STRONG REGULAR SEASON
A two-match winning streak for the Black & Gold to close the 2015 regular season gave the club a final 2015 regular-season record of 15-11-8 (53 points), which is the second-highest point total in club history. This season’s point total was only surpassed by the 2008 season (17-7-6, 57 points), the year that the Black & Gold won MLS Cup and the first major professional championship for the city of Columbus.
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Sunday’s 5:00 p.m. ET start is available via national television on ESPN, with Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman and Monica Gonzalez on the call. Locally, the contest is available via the radio in English on CD102.5 FM and in Spanish on La Mega 103.1 FM. Dwight Burgess and Neil Sika are set to have the call of the match on CD102.5, with Juan Valladares on the microphone on La Mega 103.1. A complete list of places to catch the Black & Gold on TV is available here. The game is also slated to be broadcast internationally via the following outlets: Canada, TSN1, RDS / M. East & N. Africa, Abu Dhabi Sports / Africa, FOX / China, LETV / Europe (exl UK & Eire), Eurosport / Dohar, Thailand, Hong Kong, BeIN Sports (ASIA AUS) / Indonesia, Philippines, BeIN Sports (ASIA) / Taiwan, Sportcast / UK & Eire, Sky Sports / UK, SNTV / Singapore, Starhub.