MLS Columbus Crew SC

MATCH RECAP: Columbus Crew SC 2, New York City FC 2

Published on October 23, 2017 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


MATCH RECAP: COLUMBUS CREW SC 2, NEW YORK CITY FC 2 Crew SC finishes fifth in Eastern Conference, will face-off against Atlanta United FC in Knockout Round of Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs; Federico Higuain provides helper on both goals, reaches 49th assist with the club; Josh Williams scores third goal of 2017 MLS regular season, ties personal single-season career-high number of goals

For Immediate Release: October 22, 2017 Contact: Tim Miller, 614-447-4176 or Carlos Mojica, 614-447-4203

Columbus Crew SC 2 - New York City FC 2 Citi Field (Queens, New York) Sunday, October 22, 2017

SCORING SUMMARY

CLB - Ola Kamara (Federico Higuain) 11' [Highlight: http://bit.ly/2irG4ZT]

NYC - David Villa (Maximiliano Moralez) 18' [Highlight: http://bit.ly/2iuodRX]

NYC - David Villa (Unassisted) 45' [Highlight: http://bit.ly/2iteNpZ]

CLB - Josh Williams (Federico Higuain) 58' [Highlight: http://bit.ly/2isuRIg]

NEXT MATCH FOR CREW SC (Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs): Columbus Crew SC at Atlanta United FC (Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta, Georgia)

DISCIPLINARY SUMMARY NYC - Yangel Herrera (caution) 69'

LINEUPS

Columbus Crew SC: Zack Steffen; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams, Jukka Raitala, Wil Trapp (c), Mohammed Abu (Adam Jahn 79'); Pedro Santos, Federico Higuain, Justin Meram (Kekuta Manneh 66'); Ola Kamara

Substitutes not used: Brad Stuver; Artur, Hector Jimenez, Lalas Abubakar, Cristian Martinez

New York City FC: Sean Johnson; Ethan White, Frederic Brillant, Alexander Callens, Ben Sweat; Yangel Herrera (Jonathan Lewis 87'), Alexander Ring, Maximiliano Moralez; Jack Harrison (Khiry Shelton 77'), David Villa (c), Rodney Wallace (Ronald Matarrita 82')

Substitutes not used: Eirik Johansen; Thomas McNamara, Andrea Pirlo, Andraz Struna

TEAM NOTES With his goal against New York City FC in today's match, Ola Kamara has now scored 18 regular-season strikes in 2017. Kamara's goal occurred in the 11th minute, when he received a pass from Federico Higuain which he then sent to the back of the net. This was also Kamara's 34th MLS career-goal, which takes him past Guillermo Barros Schelotto to take sole possession of eighth-place on Crew SC's list of all-time regular-season goal scorers. Kamara is now behind only Jeff Cunningham (64 goals), Brian McBride (62 goals), Federico Higuain (48 goals), Stern John (44 goals), Edson Buddle (42 goals), Justin Meram (37 goals) and Eddie Gaven (35 goals). Since joining Crew SC in 2016, Ola Kamara has made 59 regular-season appearances (53 starts), scoring 34 goals and providing five assists. In 2017, Kamara has made 34 regular-season appearances (33 starts), scoring 18 goals and registering 3 assists.

Defender Josh Williams scored his third goal of the 2017 MLS regular season in today's match against New York City FC. Williams' goal came in the 58th minute, when he headed in a corner kick from Federico Higuain. With his tally in today's match, Williams has now equaled his career-best number of goals in a single regular-season, which he previously achieved in 2013. This was Williams' seventh MLS career goal, all of which have come while playing for the Black & Gold. In 2017, Williams has made 22 regular-season appearances (19 starts) and scored three goals.

Midfielder Federico Higuain registered two assists in today's match against New York City FC, reaching 14 assists in the 2017 MLS regular-season. Higuain set up Ola Kamara's goal in the 11th minute before providing the helper on Josh Williams' 58th-minute goal. Federico Higuain has provided seven assists over Crew SC's last four regular-season matches, dating back to a 3-2 home victory over the New York Red Bulls in which he assisted all three goals. Since joining Crew SC in 2012, Higuain has made 149 regular-season appearances (144 starts), registering 48 goals and 49 assists. In 2017, Crew SC has an undefeated record of 8-0-1 in matches in which Higuain has provided one or more assists.

Goalkeeper Zack Steffen made seven saves in today's match against New York City FC, tying his career-high single-match number of saves which he achieved in a 1-1 draw on the road against Toronto FC on August 19 earlier this year. Steffen's saves in today's match included stopping a penalty kick attempt by NYCFC forward David Villa in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. This was Steffen's third penalty kick save in 2017, having previously stopped a penalty kick attempt against Toronto FC on May 10 and a penalty kick attempt against the Philadelphia Union on July 26. With the draw against New York City FC in today's match, Crew SC brings its all-time regular-season record against NYCFC to 2-2-3 dating back 2015.

Today's draw against New York City FC brought Crew SC's undefeated streak to 10 regular-season matches (6-0-4), dating back to a 3-1 win against the Chicago Fire at MAPFRE Stadium on August 12. Over that span, Crew SC has outscored its opponents 19-10. This is the second-longest regular-season undefeated streak in club history, behind only Crew SC's 19-match undefeated streak from July 3, 2004 - April 4, 2005. Additionally, this is the longest stretch of consecutive regular-season matches that the Black & Gold has gone undefeated since Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter took over the team in 2014. Crew SC's previous longest undefeated streak in regular-season action under Berhalter was four matches, which was achieved on six separate occasions: two times in 2014, three times in 2013 and once in 2016.

With today's result, Columbus Crew SC is set to open the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs on Thursday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET by traveling to face Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Should Crew SC defeat Atlanta United FC at Mercedez-Benz Stadium on Thursday, the Black & Gold would advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Winners of the Knockout Round advance to the two-legged, aggregate-goal series Conference Semifinals.

With the result in today's match, Crew SC brings its 2017 final regular-season record to 16-12-6. Up next, Crew SC travels to take on Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday, October 26 (7:00 p.m. ET / UniMas, ESPN2, CD102.5 FM, La Mega 103.1 FM, English radio stream available on ColumbusCrewSC.com).

NOTE TO MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA COVERING COLUMBUS CREW SC When discussing the organization and the team, please reference the club as "Columbus Crew SC" on first reference as "Crew SC" is an appropriate secondary reference. Both references are singular subjects, while the tertiary reference "Black & Gold," with the ampersand, is plural. Please note: we no longer use "Columbus Crew" or "The Crew" in our terminology of the club and "The Crew SC" is also not applicable. Our home venue is now known as MAPFRE Stadium and MAPFRE must be in all caps. (MAPFRE Stadium is pronounced "MAH-fray Stadium"). The club's training facility is now known as the EAS Training Center at Obetz. If you have brand terminology or badge questions - or need the updated badge and wordmark for your archives - please reach out to a member of Crew SC Communications.

Website: ColumbusCrewSC.com | Twitter: @ColumbusCrewSC | Instagram: @ColumbusCrewSC | Hashtag: #CrewSC | Facebook.com/columbuscrewsc | Snapchat: ColumbusCrewSC | Google+: +columbuscrewsc | Stadium: MAPFRE Stadium | Training Facility: EAS Training Center at Obetz

ABOUT COLUMBUS CREW SC Columbus Crew SC (Soccer Club) is the first club in Major League Soccer and in 2015, Crew SC was crowned MLS Eastern Conference Champions in the organization's 20th season. Owned and operated by Precourt Sports Ventures (PSV), it won its first MLS Cup championship in 2008 and also won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as MLS Supporters' Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. The 2017 campaign is the Black & Gold's 19th season at historic MAPFRE Stadium -- the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States - where the club set single-season sellout records and hosted the 2015 MLS Cup. The club was purchased by PSV on July 29, 2013 as part of the privately held investment and management firm's sports and entertainment business enterprise.

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