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Columbus Crew SC

Match Preview: Columbus Crew Sc to Play First-Ever Match at Avaya Stadium in San Jose Tomorrow

May 15, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew SC (4-3-2, 14 points) travels to Northern California to face the San Jose Earthquakes (4-4-2, 14 points) at Avaya Stadium tomorrow, May 6 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is televising the game, with Dwight Burgess and Neil Sika on the call. Additionally, "Crew SC Matchday" airs on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel at 10:00 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.

Columbus is 18-13-7 all-time against San Jose, dating back to the League's inaugural season of 1996. Dating back to 2004, Crew SC has earned points in six of its last eight trips to San Jose, with a 3-2-3 record over the span. Overall, Crew SC is 6-10-4 on the road against the Earthquakes. This is set to be the club's first-ever match in newly constructed Avaya Stadium, as well as the fourth-ever road stadium in which Columbus will play San Jose, joining Spartan Stadium (4-9-1 all-time record), Candlestick Park (1-0-0) and most recently, Buck Shaw Stadium (1-1-3).

Crew SC forward Kei Kamara registered two goals last weekend against Seattle Sounders FC, tying him with Clint Dempsey for the League goal-scoring lead at seven tallies. The Sierra Leone native is also the current League leader in total shots (41), and he ranks second in shots on goal (17), trailing only Vancouver's Octavio Rivero. Among all players with at least 120 minutes played, Kamara's goals-per-90-minute rate of 0.80 also ranks second in MLS. His two-goal performance against Seattle was his second such effort of the 2015 campaign. Teammate Ethan Finlay is tied for the League lead in assists, with five.

Black & Gold midfielder/defender Hector Jimenez made his second start of the season at rightback last weekend, notching an assist as part of Crew SC's victory. Jimenez's next start would be both his 75th career MLS appearance and his 50th career MLS start. Among all players on Crew SC's active roster, the former LA Galaxy player is tied with Kamara for the most career goals against San Jose (two), and he has also notched the most assists (two).

Columbus has continued its strong passing and possession play in 2015. According to the League's official statistician, Opta, Crew SC leads the League in chances created per match (13.0) and ranks second in big chances created per match (1.3). The Black & Gold also rank second overall in MLS in passing accuracy (82.3%) and fourth overall in possession (53.0%). Against Seattle, Columbus registered 24 shots and 13 shots on target. Both numbers are individual match season-highs for the club. The 13 shots on target tied a League-wide high for most in one match, shared with New England's performance against Real Salt Lake on April 25.

Columbus Crew SC at San Jose Earthquakes

Saturday, May 16 - 10:30 p.m. ET - Avaya Stadium (San Jose, California)

Regional Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

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

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 15, 2015


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