CREW SC SCORES THREE GOALS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2019 REGULAR SEASON
Wednesday's 3-1 victory over the LA Galaxy marked the first time Crew SC has scored three goals during the 2019 MLS regular season. Gyasi Zardes, Federico Higuain and Hector Jimenez all scored against the LA Galaxy, also marking the first time the Black & Gold score three goals in a regular-season contest since last year's 3-2 home victory over Minnesota United FC on October 28 of 2018. On that occasion, Gyasi Zardes scored all three goals, as he registered his first professional hat trick.
HIGUAIN: CREW’S NEW ALL-TIME REGULAR-SEASON ASSISTS LEADER
With his helper in Wednesday’s match against the LA Galaxy, Federico Higuain is now the all-time regular-season assists leader for the Crew, surpassing Robert Warzycha. Higuain’s assist on Gyasi Zardes 27th-minute goal took his all-time total to 62 in regular-season action since joining the Black & Gold in 2012. The Argentine midfielder is now one of only three active players in MLS – the other two being the Portland Timbers' Diego Valeri (71) and Sporting Kansas City's Graham Zusi (65) – to register 63 or more assists in regular-season action, as well as one of only 24 players in League history to achieve this feat. In addition to leading Columbus in all-time regular season helpers, Higuain also leads the Club in all-time regular-season game-winning assists with 20.
HIGUAIN TALLIES GOAL AND ASSIST AGAINST THE GALAXY
Federico Higuain registered his first regular-season goal of 2019 as well as his fourth regular-season assist of the year in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the LA Galaxy. Higuain’s assist came in the 27th minute, as he played a wide ball to Robinho, who then crossed it into the box for Gyasi Zardes to make it 1-0. The Argentine midfielder then turned goal-scorer in the 53rd minute, as he received a through ball from Zardes which he sent to the far post to make it 2-0 for the Black & Gold. The goal was Higuain’s 55th strike in 190 regular-season appearances (182 starts) for Columbus since joining the Club in 2012. Through 12 regular-season appearances (all starts) in 2019, Higuain has scored one goal and provided four assists, including one game-winning assist.
ZARDES NETS GOAL AND ASSIST AGAINST THE GALAXY
Gyasi Zardes recorded his fourth goal of the 2019 regular season during Wednesday’s match against the LA Galaxy. Zardes’ goal came in the 28th minute on a cross from Robinho. Zardes later turned provider, as he laid off a ball for Federico Higuain in the 53rd minute that allowed the Argentine to score the Crew's second goal. Zardes’ assist marked his first regular-assist with the Black & Gold since joining the Club ahead of the 2018 season. With his strike and assist in Wednesday’s match, Zardes has now scored 23 regular-season goals and provided one assist in 44 regular-season appearances (all starts) for Crew SC.
JIMENEZ SCORES FIRST GOAL OF 2019 REGULAR SEASON
Hector Jimenez recorded his first goal of the 2019 regular season in the 66th minute of Wednesday’s home match against the LA Galaxy, as he pounced on a loose ball before finding the back of the net to tally Crew SC’s third goal of the night. Jimenez last scored on April 19, 2014 in a 1-1 draw against D.C. United in which he started and played all 90 minutes. In 2019, Jimenez has made 11 regular-season appearances (eight starts), registering one goal and one assist. To date, Jimenez had made 113 total appearances (86 starts) since joining the Club in 2014.
ROBINHO REGISTERS ASSIST AGAINST THE LA GALAXY
Robinho registered an assist on Crew SC’s opening goal during Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the LA Galaxy. The Brazilian midfielder’s assist came in the 27th minute of the contest, as he crossed the ball into the box for Gyasi Zardes, who put the Black & Gold ahead on the scoreboard. In addition to his helper, Robinho played the entire 90 minutes, registering 64 touches, making three tackles, recording five shots and creating five goal-scoring chances. In 2019, Robinho has made 12 regular-season appearances (nine starts), providing two assists.
GUZMAN MAKES CREW SC DEBUT
David Guzman made his Crew SC debut in Wednesday’s home match against the LA Galaxy. Guzman came into the match as a substitute for Federico Higuain in the 74th minute, completing 22 passes and registering a passing percentage of 90.9. The midfielder joined the Crew in a trade with the Portland Timbers on May 6. Prior to joining the Black & Gold, Guzman played for the Timbers from 2017-2019, making 44 regular-season appearances (39 starts), scoring four goals and providing eight assists.
CREW SC ACQUIRES DAVID ACCAM IN TRADE WITH PHILADELPHIA UNION
On Wednesday, Crew SC acquired Ghanaian midfielder David Accam from the Philadelphia Union in exchange for $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, $400,000 in General Allocation Money and an International Roster Spot for the 2019 Major League Soccer season. Accam, 28, is in his fifth Major League Soccer season and has made 109 appearances (83 starts) while scoring 38 goals and providing 17 assists since joining the League. At the international level, Accam has represented the Ghana National Team on nine occasions.
CREW ACQUIRES ALLOCATION MONEY AND 2020 MLS SUPERDRAFT PICK
On Tuesday, Crew SC announced that it had acquired $100,000 in General Allocation Money and a natural Second Round Selection in the 2020 Major League Soccer SuperDraft via a trade with Atlanta United. In exchange, the Black & Gold traded midfielder Justin Meram to Atlanta. Additionally, in the event Atlanta United permanently transfer Meram to a professional soccer club outside of MLS, Crew SC shall retain a percentage of a future transfer fee. Meram made 206 regular-season appearances (145 starts) with the Black & Gold, becoming one of only five players in Club history to register at least 30 goals and 30 assists for Crew SC.
ABUBAKAR GOES ON SEASON-LONG LOAN TO COLORADO RAPIDS
On Wednesday, Crew SC announced that it had acquired $125,000 in Targeted Allocation Money from the Colorado Rapids. In exchange, Crew SC sent defender Lalas Abubakar on loan for the remainder of the 2019 Major League Soccer season. Abubakar was chosen by Crew SC in the First Round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. To date, he has made 31 regular-season appearances (27 starts) and scored two goals for the Black & Gold.
