A LOOK AT TONIGHT'S STARTING XI VS. D.C. UNITED
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
On May 8, Columbus Crew hosted D.C. United at Historic Crew Stadium. Midfielder Lucas Zelarayan opened the scoring for the Crew in the 20th minute with a direct free-kick goal. The Black & Gold added a second goal in the 63rd minute after D.C. United defender Frederic Brillant scored an own goal. After D.C. United forward Ola Kamara scored in the 82nd minute to half the deficit, the Crew added a third goal a minute later with another D.C. United own goal, this time from defender Tony Alfaro. The Crew recorded their first win of the 2021 regular season with their 3-1 victory over D.C. United.Â
CREW LEADS MLS IN MOST REGULAR-SEASON WINS AT HOME SINCE BEGINNING OF 2020 REGULAR SEASONÂ
Since the beginning of the 2020 MLS regular season, no team has accrued more home victories than the Columbus Crew (13 wins). The Crew is tied with the Philadelphia Union and New York City FC, with the Black & Gold and the Union achieving their 13 wins while playing one fewer home match.
ZELARAYAN LEADS MLS IN FREE-KICK GOALS AND GOALS FROM OUTSIDE BOX SINCE JOINING LEAGUE IN 2020Â
Since the beginning of the 2020 MLS season, no player has scored more goals from outside the box in regular-season action than Lucas Zelarayan. The Argentine midfielder has scored eight goals over that span, including five free-kick strikes – also more than anyone else over that same span.
ZARDES HIGHEST-SCORING AMERICAN IN MLS SINCE 2018
Since joining the Crew prior to the 2018 season, forward Gyasi Zardes has been the highest-scoring American player in MLS regular-season action. Zardes' 48 strikes in regular-season action put him ahead of Chris Wondolowski's 34 goals. Additionally, 46 of Zardes's goals have been scored from inside the 18-yard box, with the forward also leading all American players in that category.
ZARDES BECOMES FIRST CREW PLAYER TO WIN CONCACAF GOLD CUP SINCE HEJDUKÂ
With the U.S. Men's National Team victory over Mexico in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup final on Sunday, Gyasi Zardes became just the fifth player in Crew history to win the trophy while with the Club joining Brian McBride (2002), Jeff Cunningham (2002), Brian Maisonneuve (2002) and Frankie Hejduk (2005, 2007). Zardes turned in key performances for the U.S. during the tournament, including the game-winning goal in the semifinals to propel the Stars and Stripes past Qatar. The forward played the full 120 minutes in the United States’ thrilling 1-0 victory over Mexico on Sunday night in Las Vegas – earning his second Gold Cup title in the process. Notably, Zardes now stands fifth in U.S. MNT Gold Cup history in caps and goals, while also becoming the second-fastest player to reach double-digit goals and assists for the Stars & Stripes.
