After Crew SC's midweek 3-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC, Columbus travels to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, June 3, with a 9 p.m. ET kickoff.
Here's what you should keep an eye on in the cross-conference match:
Stirring the Pot
After a whopping 3-0 win in Wednesday's showdown against the reigning 2016 Major League Soccer Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC at MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus Crew SC is coming in hot for a quick turnaround against the Colorado Rapids.
The cross-conference clash will take place on Saturday June 3 for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. This will be the first and only meeting between the two clubs during the 2017 regular-season and their 40th overall meeting.
Zac vs. Zack
With goalkeeper Tim Howard away on international duty with the U.S. Men’s National Team, Colorado’s Zac MacMath will be filling in behind goal. The 25-year-old finished the 2016 season with a franchise-best 0.76 Goals Against Average, improving the club’s previous record from 2004. He is also second all-time on the Rapids’ list of goalkeepers with regards to winning percentage, at 0.676. MacMath, along with Tim Howard, were named Co-MVP for Colorado last season. This season, MacMath has a 1.25 GAA average in four starts, including one shutout.
Behind goal for the Black & Gold is rookie goalkeeper Zack Steffen. Steffen has proven to be a threat to opposing offenses across the league this season. Through 15 regular-season matches, Steffen has tallied 1,350 minutes for the Black & Gold, playing every minute for the 2017 MLS season. Wednesday’s match against Seattle registered Steffen’s fourth career MLS shutout and seventh career MLS win. He has recorded 45 saves so far this season, and the Black & Gold are undefeated in the matches in which he has kept a clean sheet (4-0-0).
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Crew SC hold an overall 12-18-10 record against the Rapids.
Last season, the two teams met in an eventual 1-1 draw on May 14 at MAPFRE Stadium.The Rapids, who were three points shy of the Supporters’ Shield title last season, have reversed their luck this year and currently sit in last place in the West with their 3-8-1 overall record.The Black & Gold have also scored against the Rapids in the last three meetings between the two clubs, compiling a record of 1-0-2 over that span.
A June 17 match in Atlanta against MLS-expansion side Atlanta United comes next with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff. Crew SC next plays the Montreal Impact at MAPFRE Stadium on Saturday, June 24 with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Enjoy half-off select beers (for supporters ages 21-and-over), Pepsi products, brats and pretzels through the 15th minute.
concession items subject to change
The Black & Gold welcome German Bundesliga-side and DFB Pokal-finalist Eintracht Frankfurt to MAPFRE Stadium for an international friendly on Monday, July 17. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m.
