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MLS Columbus Crew SC

Match Preview: Crew Travels to Chicago Looking for Third Straight

August 1, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - The Columbus Crew (6-7-8, 26 points) pursues its third victory in a row with a trip to Toyota Park to face the Chicago Fire (3-5-12, 21 points) on Saturday, August 2 at 8:30 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.

Fans 21 and older that cannot make the trip to Chicago can join Crew legend Frankie Hejduk at his Birthday Beach Bash on Saturday, presented by Budweiser at Flannagan's Dublin, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET. Those that RSVP at TheCrew.com/BirthdayBash by 5:00 p.m. ET today can avoid a cover charge and hang-out poolside with Frankie and the Bud Girls at the (614) Magazine Pool Party at Elly Bay. Budweiser drink specials include $4 Budweiser and Bud Light 16 oz. aluminum bottles and a viewing party for the Crew's clash against the Fire begins at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The Crew has won two consecutive League matches and has moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference following a 2-1 victory over New England on July 26. This is the second and final regular-season meeting between Chicago and Columbus in 2014, as the historic rivals also met in the 2014 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Black & Gold took the first League tilt by a 2-0 final on May 24, while Chicago advanced over the Crew in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 4-2 extra-time victory at Toyota Park on June 25.

Although Chicago has historically had the Crew's number, the Black & Gold have recorded back-to-back wins against the Fire in the regular-season dating back to 2013. The team's 3-0 win against Chicago in September 2013 snapped a four-match losing streak against the Fire, but Chicago has won six of the last nine overall regular-season meetings (6-3-0). The Crew must now travel to Toyota Park after playing the last three regular-season contests against the Fire at Crew Stadium. Overall, the Crew is 14-24-13 against the Fire in regular-season meetings all-time dating back to 1998 and the Black & Gold are 5-14-7 in that span at Chicago.

With his game-winning goal last Saturday in New England, Ethan Finlay has scored a goal or an assist in seven of the last 10 League matches he's played in dating back to May 17 at Portland. Additionally, he is on-pace for a historic year in scoring percentage, efficiently slotting home his chances for goals. Among all Crew players with five or more goals in a campaign, Finlay's current single-season scoring percentage of 22.7% would rank fourth-best in club history if the regular-season ended today.

Columbus Crew at Chicago Fire

Saturday, August 2 - 8:30 p.m. ET - Toyota Park (Bridgeview, Illinois)

Regional Television: Time Warner Cable SportsChannel

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

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 1, 2014


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