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MLS Columbus Crew SC

Columbus Crew SC Begins 2016 MLS Regular Season at Portland on Sunday

March 4, 2016 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew SC opens the 2016 campaign this weekend and travels to Portland, Oregon to meet the Timbers on Sunday, March 6 at 4:30 p.m. ET. ESPN is set to televise the match nationally, with Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman and Monica Gonzalez on the call. The contest also airs locally on the radio on CD102.5 FM in English, featuring play-by-play by Neil Sika and analysis by Dwight Burgess, and also on La Mega 103.1 FM in Spanish, with Juan Valladares behind the microphone. The English-language radio broadcast is also slated to stream live on ColumbusCrewSC.com.

Crew SC supporters in Columbus can watch the match at the Official Crew SC Opener Watch Party at Land-Grant Brewing beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. For supporters 21-and-over, the party features the full launch of Land-Grant's "Glory" beer, a Crew SC-themed American Wheat Ale voted upon by supporters.

This weekend's match begins the 21st Major League Soccer regular season for Columbus Crew SC. The Black & Gold are coming off of a successful 2015 campaign that saw the club capture its second Eastern Conference Championship. Last season, Crew SC's point total of 53 following a 15-11-8 record was the second-highest such total in club history.

Crew SC's 58 goals scored in 2015 was the third-highest single-season total in club history and the most that a Black & Gold squad has scored in a single campaign since 1998. Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, Crew SC scored at least 50 goals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in club history.

The Black & Gold return the core of its 2015 Eastern Conference Champion team and enter the 2016 season with the addition of five more players with previous senior National Team call-ups to their name: Corey Ashe, Conor Casey, Ola Kamara, Emil Larsen and Rodrigo Saravia. Overall, 14 members of Crew SC have received a senior National Team call-up throughout their careers (Harrison Afful, Corey Ashe, Conor Casey, Ethan Finlay, Waylon Francis, Kei Kamara, Ola Kamara, Emil Larsen, Cedrick Mabwati, Justin Meram, Michael Parkhurst, Rodrigo Saravia, Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp).

Sunday's contest is the seventh all-time regular-season meeting between Crew SC and the Timbers, with the Black & Gold holding a 2-2-2 all-time record against Portland in the previous six contests. Crew SC is 0-1-2 all-time at Providence Park. This match also pits last season's two conference champions against one another for the first time since the 2015 MLS Cup.

Crew SC has not played at Providence Park since May 17, 2014. In that match, midfielder Ethan Finlay recorded his first MLS goal with a tally in the 81st minute. Since that date, Finlay's totals of 23 goals and 20 assists represent a combined amount (43) only exceeded by two other players in the League over that timespan: 2014 MLS Landon Donovan MVP Robbie Keane (55) and 2014 MLS Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips (44).

Columbus Crew SC at Portland Timbers

Sunday, March 6 - 4:30 p.m. ET - Providence Park (Portland, Oregon)

National Television: ESPN

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

International: M. East & N. Africa, Abu Dhabi Sports / China, LETV / Doha, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, BeIN Sports (ASIA AUS) / Indonesia, Philippines, BeIN Sports (ASIA) / Taiwan, Sportcast / Africa, FOX / Europe (exl UK & Eire), Eurosport / UK & Eire, Sky Sports / UK, SNTV

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