MLS Columbus Crew SC

MATCH PREVIEW: Crew Back on the Road with Clash at Portland

Published on May 15, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew (3-4-3, 12 points) heads to Oregon this weekend for its third road match of the month as the club faces the Portland Timbers (1-3-6, 9 points) on Saturday, May 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel is 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 first and only meeting between the Crew and Portland in 2014. The Black & Gold defeated the Rose City side 1-0 in the lone battle of 2013 on July 7 at Crew Stadium. Midfielder Wil Trapp made his MLS - and Crew - debuts in that match and started every single remaining match of that campaign from that point forward. Trapp, the 2014 club Vice Captain, is set to serve in an additional leadership role as two of the three Crew players called in for international duty are set to miss this weekend's contest, including Captain Michael Parkhurst and defender Waylon Francis.

The Crew is looking for its first win at Providence Park as the Black & Gold are 0-1-1 in their first two trips to Oregon since Portland entered MLS in 2011. The Crew secured a road point in the team's last visit to Portland in a scoreless draw on May 5, 2012. The 10:30 p.m. ET tilt is the fifth overall regular-season clash between the two teams dating back to 2011 and the Crew holds a slight advantage in the all-time series with a record of 2-1-1.

Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark posted his third five-save performance of 2014 in the Black & Gold's most recent match last Saturday against Vancouver. Of goalkeepers that have played nine or more matches in 2014, Clark ranks first in MLS in save percentage (74.42) and has allowed an average of just 1.10 goals per game.

In the Crew's last trip to the Pacific Northwest on March 29 at Seattle, the Crew secured a crucial 2-1 victory behind Justin Meram's 94th-minute winner. Saturday marks the second consecutive Western Conference test for the Crew after hosting Vancouver in Columbus on May 10. Following this weekend, the Black & Gold round-out the month of May with a pair of Eastern Conference matches, beginning with a home clash against the Chicago Fire on the Crew's Military Appreciation Night on Saturday, May 24.

Columbus Crew at Portland Timbers Saturday, May 17 - 10:30 p.m. ET - Providence Park (Portland, Oregon)

Regional Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel Crew Radio: 95.5 The Game (English); La Mega 103.1 (Spanish)

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