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Columbus Crew SC

Match Preview: Columbus Crew Sc Hosts New York Red Bulls

March 27, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew SC (1-1-0, 3 points) continues its 20th Major League Soccer season by hosting the New York Red Bulls (1-0-1, 4 points) at MAPFRE Stadium tomorrow, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is televising the game, with Dwight Burgess, Neil Sika and Ashleigh Ignelzi on the call. Additionally, "Crew SC Matchday" with host Chris Doran airs on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel at 7:00 p.m. ET, and "Crew SC Post-Match" immediately follows the action. The match is being broadcast with simulcast audio on CD102.5 FM, and Juan Valladares is set to be behind the microphone for La Mega 103.1 FM.

Tomorrow's match is the 61st all-time MLS regular-season meeting between these two League originals. Crew SC holds a 25-26-9 record against New York throughout its club history, including a mark of 15-11-4 at home, with 40 goals for and 39 against. Last season, the Black & Gold went 1-1-1 against the Red Bulls, including a draw in the only meeting of the season at MAPFRE Stadium and a 3-1 victory at Red Bull Arena in the clubs' last encounter. Aaron Schoenfeld notched a brace and Ethan Finlay scored his 11th goal of the season to propel Columbus to a road victory in that contest, on October 19, 2014.

Additionally, Columbus and New York have met twice in the MLS Cup Playoffs: the 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which the Black & Gold took two matches to zero, and in MLS Cup 2008, where a 3-1 victory gave Columbus its first MLS Cup championship.

After two matches played, Crew SC leads MLS in total shots (including blocks) per match at 19.5. Individually, Kei Kamara (11) is currently tied for fifth in MLS in the shots category. He and teammate Justin Meram are the top two shooters in the league on a per-match basis, with Meram racking up seven shots in his debut against Toronto FC and Kamara averaging 5.5 shots per match.

Crew SC has continued its strong passing and possession play under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. After the third weekend of regular-season MLS play, the Black & Gold lead MLS in successful passes per match (427.5) and in total passing accuracy (84.07%). Crew SC also leads MLS in possession with a rate of 60.28%. On the individual level, among players that have attempted at least 50 passes this season, Waylon Francis (first, 95.12%), Mohammed Saeid (third, 93.22%) and Wil Trapp (eighth, 89.93%) all rank in the top ten in passing accuracy.

Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls

Saturday, March 28 - 7:30 p.m. ET - MAPFRE Stadium

Regional Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Crew SC Radio: CD102.5 FM (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)

Check out the Columbus Crew SC Statistics

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