Match Preview: Columbus Crew SC Returns to MAPFRE Stadium Tomorrow

Published on April 17, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release

COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew SC (1-2-2, 5 points) returns home following a two-match road trip to meet Orlando City SC (2-2-2, 8 points) at MAPFRE Stadium tomorrow, April 18 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" 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 first-ever meeting between Crew SC and MLS expansion side Orlando City SC. The Black & Gold are set to face off against Orlando two additional times this year, with both future meetings taking place at the Citrus Bowl on May 30 and August 1. Orlando City SC is off to a 2-2-2 start in its inaugural campaign, with a 2-0-1 mark on the road, but a 0-1-2 record against Eastern Conference opponents.

Among the League's top 10 most accurate passers (min. 80 passes attempted), seven are members of the two clubs involved in this match. For Crew SC, defender Waylon Francis (first, 95.1%), midfielder Mohammed Saeid (sixth, 88.3%) and midfielder Wil Trapp (ninth, 87.7%) all rank in the top 10. They are joined by Orlando's Eric Avila (second, 90.4%), Darwin Ceren (fourth, 89.6%), Cristian Higuita (eighth, 88.1%) and Amobi Okugo (10th, 87.7%).

Crew SC forward Kei Kamara currently leads MLS in total shots, level with Vancouver's Octavio Rivero at 23 attempts on goal. Kamara ranks second in the League in shots-per-match with 4.6, trailing New York City FC's David Villa's mark of 4.7 entering matchweek seven. Teammate Justin Meram ranks fifth in the League in the category at 3.3 shots-per-match.

Against New England, goalkeeper Steve Clark kept his second clean sheet of the season in helping Crew SC earn a result at Gillette Stadium. All-time, the Black & Gold 'keeper has recorded 10 MLS shutouts, including two against the Revolution. His first clean sheet of the season came in the Opening Match at MAPFRE Stadium on March 14 against Toronto FC.

Columbus Crew SC vs. Orlando City SC

Saturday, April 18 - 7:30 p.m. ET - MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)

Regional Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

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

Major League Soccer Stories from April 17, 2015

• Earthquakes Drop Match against Red Bulls 2-0 - San Jose Earthquakes
• Red Bulls Blow past San Jose 2-0 - New York Red Bulls
• Todd Dunivant and A.J. DeLaGarza Volunteer at Kick for Kids - LA Galaxy
• New York Red Bulls Post-Match Notes: New York 2, San Jose 0 - New York Red Bulls
• Houston Dynamo Face D.C. United Tomorrow at RFK Stadium - Houston Dynamo FC
• Crew SC Looking for Team Effort Against Kaka's Lions - Columbus Crew SC
• Sporting KC Opens Two-Game Road Trip at StubHub Center against LA Galaxy - Sporting Kansas City
• Preview: Revs Return to the Road for Meeting with Philadelphia Union on Sunday - New England Revolution
• Real Salt Lake Hosts First-Place Vancouver in Lone April Home Match Saturday - Real Salt Lake
• Match Preview: Columbus Crew SC Returns to MAPFRE Stadium Tomorrow - Columbus Crew SC
• Earthquakes Midfielder Tommy Thompson Named to U.S. U-20 National Team Training Camp in Austria - San Jose Earthquakes
• Red Bulls' Miazga Named to U.S. U-20 Roster for Upcoming Friendlies - New York Red Bulls
• Roldan Called into U-20 U.S. National Team Camp in Austria - Seattle Sounders FC
• Union Forward Zach Pfeffer Called up to U.S. U-20s - Philadelphia Union
• Orlando City Defender Conor Donovan Called up to U-20 U.S. Men's National Team Ahead of U-20 World C - Orlando City SC
• Columbus Crew SC Midfielder Romain Gall Earns Call-Up to US Under-20 National Team Camp - Columbus Crew SC
• Sporting KC Defender Erik Palmer-Brown to Join U.S. Under-20 MNT - Sporting Kansas City
• Galaxy host Western Conference rivals Sporting Kansas City - LA Galaxy
• Earthquakes Kick off Get Earthquakes Fit Program for Seventh Year - San Jose Earthquakes
• First Away Game for FC Montreal Saturday - Club de Foot Montreal
• Orlando City Strives to Maintain Positive Road Form against Columbus - Orlando City SC
• New York Red Bulls Announce Internet Radio Network - New York Red Bulls
• New England Revolution Charitable Foundation to reward recyclers with reusable water bottles - New England Revolution

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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