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MLS Columbus Crew SC

Match Preview: Crew Travels North for Test at Toronto FC

May 30, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew (4-4-4, 16 points) travels to Canada for an Eastern Conference clash and a Trillium Cup meeting, presented by Scotts, against Toronto FC (4-4-1, 13 points) at BMO Field on Saturday, May 31 at 5:00 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. The match is also airing on the MLS World Feed.

The tilt marks the second of three meetings between the clubs in 2014. Toronto defeated Columbus by a score of 2-0 on April 5 at Crew Stadium, with a third match scheduled in Columbus on August 9. Saturday is the 21st regular-season battle all-time dating back to 2007. Columbus leads the all-time series with a record of 10-3-7 in regular-season action. The Crew is 3-1-5 all-time when traveling to Toronto and is 7-2-2 when hosting the Reds.

Following Toronto FC's 2-0 victory over the Crew on April 5, the Crew heads to Toronto in need of a result to keep its Trillium Cup chances alive in 2014. The Crew has secured the Trillium Cup five times and twice in a row. 2008 marked the first year the award was up for grabs and the Crew held the trophy from 2008-2010 before a Toronto regular-season series victory gave the Reds the Cup for 2011 -- Toronto's only Trillium Cup victory. The Crew regained the award in 2012 with three victories over Toronto and retained it in 2013 with a 2-1-0 record against the Reds.

Saturday's trip to Toronto also marks the Crew's first of two visits to Canada in 2014 and 15th overall regular-season match north of the border. Although the Black & Gold fell to Toronto on July 27, 2013, the Crew has secured points in 11 of the 14 previous meetings in Canada and is 5-3-6 in those Canadian-hosted matches.

The Crew is without Designated Player Federico Higuain this weekend while the Argentine serves a one-match suspension for yellow-card accumulation. The Crew enters Saturday riding a two-match unbeaten streak backed by a pair of multiple-goal contests, including goals in consecutive weekends from Ethan Finlay. Goalkeeper Steve Clark earned his second shutout of the season in last Saturday's 2-0 win over Chicago and is second in save percentage in MLS among netminders with 11 or more starts in 2014.

Columbus Crew at Toronto FC

Saturday, May 31 - 5:00 p.m. ET - BMO Field (Toronto, Canada)

Regional Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

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

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