MLS Columbus Crew SC

Winner of the match moves on to the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals

Published on October 27, 2017 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS - Columbus Crew SC takes on Atlanta United FC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium tonight, Thursday, October 26 in an Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round. The contest kicks-off at 7:00 p.m. ET and is set to be televised nationally in Spanish on UniMas with Jose Luis Lopez Salido (play-by-play), Luis Omar Tapia (play-by-play), Pavel Pardo (analyst) and Ramses Sandoval (sideline), and in English on ESPN2 with Adrian Healey (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst) and Julie Stewart -Binks (sideline) on the call. Tonight's match also airs locally on the radio on CD102.5 FM in English, with Neil Sika and Dwight Burgess on the call. La Mega 103.1 FM has the match airing in Spanish, with Juan Valladares behind the microphone. The Spanish radio calls are also set to be streamed in Spanish on the LaMega1 App and via Tunein Radio as WVKO-FM. The club's official website, ColumbusCrewSC.com, is set to stream the English-language radio broadcast online.

The Black & Gold finished the 2017 MLS regular season on a 10-match unbeaten streak, the club's second longest unbeaten streak, behind only its 19-match undefeated streak from July 3, 2004 - April 4, 2005. Additionally, Columbus finished with the second-highest number of points in club history (54 points), second only to the 2008 MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield-winning side (57 points). Along the way, Crew SC registered 16 regular-season wins, the third-most in club history behind the 1999 (19 wins) and the 2008 (17 wins) campaigns.

Crew SC is coming off of a 2-2 road draw against New York City FC last Sunday, with goals scored by forward Ola Kamara and defender Josh Williams. Kamara scored his 18th goal of the year in regular-season action, which tie d him with Stern John's 1999 campaign for third place on Crew SC's list of most goals scored in a single regular season. Williams scored his third goal of the 2017 MLS regular season, tying his career best number of goals which he previously achieved during the 2013 regular season while playing for Crew SC. Both of the goals were assisted by midfielder Federico Higuain who has now provided seven assists over the Black & Gold's last four matches. Moreover, Crew SC finished the 2017 regular season with an undefeated record of 8-0-1 in matches in which Higuain provided one or more assists.

Over Crew SC's past five matches, no other Black & Gold players have scored more goals than forward Ola Kamara and defender Josh Williams. Both Kamara and Williams have scored three goals each over their past five matches, with Kamara scoring against Vancouver Whitecaps FC (September 16), Orlando City SC (October 15) and New York City FC (October 22), while Williams has scored against the New York Red Bulls (September 23), D.C. United (September 30) and New York City FC (October 22). Together, Kamara and Williams have combined to score all three of the Black & Gold's last three game-winning goals.

According to data compiled by TransferMarkt, of the 12 teams that qualified for the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, Crew SC is the youngest team, with an average age of 26.0 years based on the 23 players that played in at least one or more regular-season matches for the club. Similarly, the Black & Gold also boast the youngest average age for their starting eleven, at 26.1 years. In 2017, the average age of players across the League is 26.8 years. Of the 23 players that featured for Crew SC during the MLS regular season, eight of them are under the age of 23, including goalkeeper Zack Steffen who played every single minute of the regular season for the Black & Gold. Should Steffen start against Atlanta United FC tonight, he would officially become the youngest goalkeeper to play and start in an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs match for the Black & Gold, with an age of 22 years, 206 days.

Columbus Crew SC at Atlanta United FC

Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round

Thursday, October 26 - 7:00 p.m. ET - Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)

National Television: UniMas, ESPN2 (Coverage begins at 7:00 p.m. ET)

International Television: Abu Dhabi (Middle East and North Africa), BeIN Sports (Asia, Australia), DSports/ATR (India), EuroSport (Pan Europe), FOX Sports Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa), Sky Sports (United Kingdom), Sportscast (Taiwan) and StarHub (Singapore)

Crew SC Radio: CD102.5 FM (English); La Mega 103.1 FM (Spanish), Spanish radio broadcast also simulcast on LaMega1 App and via TuneIn Radio as WVKO-FM, English radio broadcast also simulcast on ColumbusCrewSC.com

COLUMBUS CREW SC HD VIDEO PREVIEW SOUNDBYTES

Soundbytes available this week: Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter as well as midfielder Federico Higuain and forward Ola Kamara - http://bit.ly/2017MLSoundbytes (no password needed to open/download files). Crew SC video is HD and broadcast quality. Please alert a member of Crew SC Communications if you would like specific videos or interviews ahead of each game. Usage of videos must also give video courtesy to MLSsoccer.com .

Check out the Columbus Crew SC Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from October 27, 2017


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.

OurSports Central