MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew Heads to D.C. United to Open Its 19th Season of MLS Play

March 7, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew opens its 19th season of Major League Soccer when the club travels to the Nation's Capital to face Eastern Conference rival D.C. United on Saturday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will be televising the game, with Dwight Burgess and Chris Doran on the call. Neil Sika is set to describe the action for 95.5 The Game, with Carlos Cordova and Juan Valladares behind the microphone for La Mega 103.1 FM.

Saturday's match marks the 2014 season debut of the Black & Gold under the leadership of Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. The Black & Gold went unbeaten (4-0-1) during preseason, taking home the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla. After coaching in Sweden, new Crew boss Berhalter's spot on the sidelines marks his return to MLS as he spent his final three seasons of his playing career with the LA Galaxy, where he served as a player-coach during his final campaign.

Winners of two out of the last three tilts between the two teams, the Crew enters the weekend having outscored United 7-4 in the most recent trio of match-ups. Saturday's contest marks the first of three meetings for the Black & Gold and D.C. this season. The two teams play on April 19 at Crew Stadium before a June 7 visit to FedExField as part of a double-header in the Road to Brazil series.

D.C. United holds a slight lead in the all-time series with a record of 25-23-8. The Black & Gold have the advantage in Columbus, posting a 16-7-5 against United at home and the Crew holds a record of 7-18-3 at RFK Stadium. The Crew notched a 3-0 victory over United during their last meeting at Crew Stadium on April 27, 2013 with three first-half goals in the win.

The Black & Gold are opening the season on the road for the fourth straight year. Overall, the Crew is 2-4-1 when beginning the season on the road and is 5-3-3 when the season begins in Columbus. The Crew has shut-out its opponents in season openers six times and been held scoreless through the first 90 minutes four times since its first season in 1996.

Designated Player Federico Higuain now puts on the number 10 jersey after wearing the number 33 jersey in his first two seasons with the Crew. The playmaker scored nine goals and added 11 assists last year. Pipa also strung together a pair of multiple-match stretches in 2013 in which he scored a goal or recorded an assist, including a four-match clip from June 22 through July 7. His performances made the Black & Gold a better team, as the Crew was 6-1-2 when he scored a goal and 5-1-2 when he provided an assist.

Columbus Crew at D.C. United

Saturday, March 8 - 7:00 p.m. ET - RFK Stadium (Washington D.C.)

Regional Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

Crew Radio: 95.5 The Game (English); La Mega 103.1 FM (Spanish)

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 7, 2014


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