CREW SC AMONG MLS LEADERS IN REGULAR-SEASON HOME WINS SINCE START OF 2017 MLS REGULAR SEASON
Since the beginning of the 2017 MLS regular season, only New York City FC has won more home matches than Crew SC, which is tied with the New England Revolution and the Houston Dynamo for second-most regular-season home wins over that span. The Black & Gold have played 28 regular-season matches at home dating back to a 1-1 home draw against the Chicago Fire on March 4, 2017. Over that span, Crew SC has posted a winning record of 18-5-5, winning 59 of 84 possible points at MAPFRE Stadium.
ZACK STEFFEN MAKES 50TH REGULAR-SEASON APPEARANCE FOR CREW SC
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen reached a career milestone with Crew SC during Saturday’s road match against New York City FC, as he made his 50th regular-season appearance - as well as his 50th start - with the club. Steffen is now one of only six players on the current Crew SC roster to have made at least 50 appearances and 50 starts for the club. Since joining the Black & Gold in 2016, Steffen has made 132 saves and recorded 16 shutouts in regular-season action, the fifth-most shutouts for the club in regular-season action. Additionally, the 23-year-old holds the record for the longest regular-season shutout streak in Black & Gold history, having maintained a clean sheet for 535 minutes, spanning from the 46th minute of a home match against the San Jose Earthquakes (April 28, 2018) to the 30th minute of a home contest against Atlanta United FC (June 13, 2018).
FEDERICO HIGUAIN AMONG TOP PLAYMAKERS IN MLS
In 2018, no other player has created more goal-scoring chances (including assists) in MLS regular-season action than midfielder Federico Higuain. Per Opta, Higuain has created 67 goal-scoring chances since the beginning of the season (including seven assists), more than any other player in the League. Of his 67 goal-scoring chances, 38 have come from open play, the fourth-most in MLS behind only New York City FC’s Maximiliano Moralez (44), the New England Revolution’s Diego Fagundez (40) and Real Salt Lake’s Albert Rusnak (39). Similarly, Higuain’s average of 3.74 chances created per 90 minutes is the highest in MLS among players who have played 1,000 minutes or more in the 2018 regular-season. In addition to creating these goal-scoring chances, Higuain has also scored four goals to bring his 2018 output to four goals and seven assists in 20 regular-season appearances (18 starts).
HARRISON AFFUL LEADS MLS DEFENDERS IN GOAL-SCORING CHANCES FROM OPEN PLAY
Through 20 appearances in the 2018 MLS regular-season, Harrison Afful leads the League in goal-scoring chances from open play created by a defender. Per Opta, Afful’s 26 goal-scoring chances put him ahead of the Colorado Rapids’ Edgar Castillo, who has created 24 chances from open play. Afful is also tied with Yoshimar Yotun in total goal-scoring chances created by a defender. In addition to his 26 chances created, which are the second-most for Crew SC, Afful has contributed a goal and two assists in the 2018 MLS regular-season campaign. Since joining the Black & Gold in 2015, Afful has made 83 regular-season appearances (80 starts) registering four goals and eight assists.
MILTON VALENZUELA LEADS MLS DEFENDERS IN SUCCESSFUL CROSSES FROM OPEN PLAY
In 2018, no other MLS defender has completed more crosses from open play in regular-season action than Milton Valenzuela. The 19-year-old Argentine has completed 17 of his 54 crosses, more than any other defender in MLS and the fourth-most out of any player in the League, behind only the Houston Dynamo’s Romell Quioto (28), Atlanta United FC’s Julian Gressel (23) and Real Salt Lake’s Brooks Lennon (18). Similarly, Valenzuela’s average of 0.99 successful crosses per 90 minutes is the highest average among MLS defenders who have played 1,000 or more regular-season minutes in 2018. Since joining Crew SC ahead of the 2018 MLS season, Valenzuela has made 18 regular-season appearances (17 starts), registering one goal and two assists.
