2018 Columbus Crew SC season
2018 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
![]() | |||
Owner | Precourt Sports Ventures LLC | ||
Head coach | Gregg Berhalter | ||
Major League Soccer | Conference: 5th Overall: 10th | ||
MLS Cup Playoffs | Conference semifinals (knocked out by New York Red Bulls) | ||
U.S. Open Cup | Fourth round (knocked out by Chicago Fire) | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Gyasi Zardes (19) All: Gyasi Zardes (20) | ||
Highest home attendance | 19,121 (September 22 vs. Colorado) | ||
Lowest home attendance | 4,992 (June 6 vs. Chicago, USOC) | ||
Average home league attendance | 12,447 | ||
| |||
The 2018 Columbus Crew SC season was the club's twenty-third season of existence, and their twenty-third consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. Columbus also competed in the U.S. Open Cup, and took part in the Pacific Rim Cup and Carolina Challenge Cup during preseason. The season covered the period from November 30, 2017, to the start of the 2019 Major League Soccer season.
Columbus finished in third place in the inaugural Pacific Rim Cup during preseason. Facing a pair of Japanese opponents, Crew SC were defeated by Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in the semifinals, but bounced back with a victory over Iwaki FC in the consolation game. Columbus then took part in the Carolina Challenge Cup, winning that title for the second consecutive season. Crew SC won all three matches in the tournament, claiming the CCC championship for the third time in club history.
Columbus additionally won each of their midseason rivalry matches, defeating Toronto FC across two games for the Trillium Cup and dispatching FC Dallas on tiebreakers to defend the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup. Against Toronto, Columbus was trailing in the aggregate series by a 3–2 line inside of the final 30 minutes of the season series; the Crew put in three late goals to tie the match and win the cup. The match against Dallas ended in a scoreless draw, with Columbus retaining the cup based on the head-to-head goals tiebreaker. Crew SC won the Pioneer Cup for the seventh time that it had been contested.
Columbus qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive season, again finishing in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Just as in 2017, Crew SC was victorious in a penalty shootout on the road in the knockout round, this time advancing past D.C. United with goalkeeper Zack Steffen making two saves. However, Columbus was eliminated in the conference semifinals by New York Red Bulls after suffering a 3–0 defeat in the second leg. In the U.S. Open Cup, Crew SC were eliminated in the fourth round by Chicago Fire, with the tie coming down to a penalty shootout. Crew SC goalkeeper Logan Ketterer had his shot saved in the eleventh round of kicks.
Background
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Save_The_Crew_secondary_badge.png/180px-Save_The_Crew_secondary_badge.png)
Overshadowing the season for Columbus was a threat by owner Anthony Precourt to move the team to Austin, Texas; Precourt had announced the proposed move in October 2017, five days before the team's final regular season game.[1] The #SavetheCrew movement had been created in the aftermath of this proposed move.
Two days after the 2018 regular season began, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the City of Columbus filed a lawsuit against Precourt, citing a 1996 state law that prevents sports teams that benefited from public facilities or financial assistance from relocating to another city without a six-month notice and attempting to sell the team to a local ownership group.[2] The lawsuit worked its way through the courts throughout the 2018 season.
On October 12, 2018, with two games remaining in the regular season, the owner of the Cleveland Browns (Jimmy Haslam) released a statement stating he, along with other local groups, was in the process of buying the Crew.[3] MLS later released a statement stating their willingness to keep the Crew in Columbus, and that Precourt would get the rights to start a team in Austin if the deal went through.[4]
Roster
[edit]- As of match played November 11, 2018[5]
No. | Name | Nationality | Position(s) | Date of birth (age) | Signed in | Previous club | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | ||||||||
12 | Ben Lundgaard | ![]() | GK | September 2, 1995 (aged 23) | 2018 | ![]() | 0 | 0 |
23 | Zack Steffen | ![]() | GK | April 2, 1995 (aged 23) | 2016 | ![]() | 71 | 0 |
24 | Jon Kempin | ![]() | GK | April 8, 1993 (aged 25) | 2018 | ![]() | 5 | 0 |
30 | Logan Ketterer | ![]() | GK | November 9, 1993 (aged 25) | 2017 | ![]() | 1 | 0 |
Defenders | ||||||||
3 | Josh Williams | ![]() | CB | April 18, 1988 (aged 30) | 2017 | ![]() | 126 | 7 |
4 | Jonathan Mensah | ![]() | CB | July 13, 1990 (aged 28) | 2017 | ![]() | 61 | 3 |
17 | Lalas Abubakar | ![]() | CB | December 25, 1994 (aged 23) | 2017 | ![]() | 35 | 2 |
19 | Milton Valenzuela | ![]() | LB, RB | August 13, 1998 (aged 20) | 2018 | ![]() | 34 | 1 |
21 | Alex Crognale | ![]() | CB | August 27, 1994 (aged 24) | 2017 | ![]() | 24 | 1 |
22 | Gastón Sauro | ![]() | CB | February 23, 1990 (aged 28) | 2015 | ![]() | 31 | 0 |
25 | Harrison Afful | ![]() | RB, DM | July 24, 1986 (aged 32) | 2015 | ![]() | 108 | 6 |
31 | Connor Maloney | ![]() | RB | May 18, 1995 (aged 23) | 2017 | ![]() | 4 | 0 |
Midfielders | ||||||||
2 | Ricardo Clark | ![]() | DM | February 10, 1983 (aged 35) | 2018 | ![]() | 13 | 1 |
6 | Wil Trapp | ![]() | DM | January 15, 1993 (aged 25) | 2013 | ![]() | 177 | 2 |
7 | Pedro Santos | ![]() | RM, LM | April 22, 1988 (aged 30) | 2017 | ![]() | 47 | 1 |
8 | Artur | ![]() | DM | March 11, 1996 (aged 22) | 2018 | ![]() | 63 | 1 |
9 | Justin Meram | ![]() | LM, RM | December 4, 1988 (aged 29) | 2018 | ![]() | 225 | 43 |
10 | Federico Higuaín | ![]() | AM | October 25, 1984 (aged 34) | 2012 | ![]() | 196 | 58 |
13 | Mike Grella | ![]() | LM, RM | January 23, 1987 (aged 31) | 2018 | ![]() | 12 | 1 |
16 | Hector Jiménez | ![]() | AM, LM, LB, RB | November 3, 1988 (aged 30) | 2014 | ![]() | 116 | 1 |
18 | Cristian Martínez | ![]() | LM, RM | February 6, 1997 (aged 21) | 2017 | ![]() | 31 | 3 |
20 | Eduardo Sosa | ![]() | AM | June 20, 1996 (aged 22) | 2018 | ![]() | 11 | 1 |
26 | Luis Argudo | ![]() | LM, RM, AM, DM | December 13, 1995 (aged 22) | 2018 | ![]() | 21 | 0 |
28 | Niko Hansen | ![]() | LM, RM | September 14, 1994 (aged 24) | 2017 | ![]() | 40 | 4 |
Forwards | ||||||||
11 | Gyasi Zardes | ![]() | ST | September 2, 1991 (aged 27) | 2018 | ![]() | 36 | 20 |
14 | Adam Jahn | ![]() | ST | January 5, 1991 (aged 27) | 2016 | ![]() | 46 | 7 |
27 | Edward Opoku | ![]() | FW, RM, LM | August 1, 1996 (aged 22) | 2018 | ![]() | 6 | 0 |
32 | Patrick Mullins | ![]() | ST | February 5, 1992 (aged 26) | 2018 | ![]() | 13 | 1 |
Non-competitive
[edit]Preseason
[edit]On October 5, 2017, Crew SC were announced as a participant in the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup, the fifth time that the club was to participate in the tournament. Columbus entered the event as defending champions.[6] On November 13, 2017, the club announced that they would also take part in the inaugural Pacific Rim Cup during preseason. Crew SC were joined by Vancouver Whitecaps FC from MLS, as well as Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and Iwaki FC from Japan.[7] Columbus was drawn against Consadole Sapporo, with the winner advancing to the championship match and the loser going to the third place match.
January 31 Friendly | Columbus Crew SC | 2–1 | Colorado Rapids | Casa Grande, AZ |
Zardes ![]() Argudo ![]() | Report | Ford ![]() ![]() Serna ![]() | Stadium: Grande Sports Academy |
February 4 Friendly | Columbus Crew SC | 2–1 | Seattle Sounders FC | Tucson, AZ |
Biros ![]() Jahn ![]() | Report | Rodríguez ![]() Saari ![]() | Stadium: Mulcahy Soccer Stadium |
February 9 Pacific Rim Cup | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo ![]() | 3–2 | Columbus Crew SC | Halawa, HI |
1:00 AM EST | Reis ![]() Hayasaka ![]() Miyoshi ![]() | Report | Zardes ![]() | Stadium: Aloha Stadium Referee: Robert Sibiga |
February 10 Pacific Rim Cup | Iwaki FC ![]() | 3–5 | Columbus Crew SC | Halawa, HI |
9:00 PM EST | Hisanaga ![]() Hiraoka ![]() Yoshida ![]() | Report | Zardes ![]() Higuaín ![]() Abubakar ![]() Crognale ![]() Opoku ![]() Argudo ![]() | Stadium: Aloha Stadium Referee: Allen Chapman |
February 17 Carolina Challenge Cup | Atlanta United FC | 1–3 | Columbus Crew SC | Charleston, SC |
5:00 PM EST | González Pírez ![]() J. Martínez ![]() | Report | Pedro Santos ![]() Abubakar ![]() Martínez ![]() J. Martínez ![]() | Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium |
February 21 Carolina Challenge Cup | Charleston Battery | 1–2 | Columbus Crew SC | Charleston, SC |
5:00 PM EST | Svantesson ![]() | Report | Zardes ![]() | Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium Referee: José Carlos Rivero |
February 24 Carolina Challenge Cup | Columbus Crew SC | 2–0 | Minnesota United FC | Charleston, SC |
5:00 PM EST | Higuaín ![]() Zardes ![]() Jonathan ![]() | Report | Boxall ![]() | Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium |
Midseason
[edit]July 3 Friendly | Columbus Crew SC | 2–0 | ![]() | Columbus, OH |
7:00 PM EDT | Zardes ![]() Williams ![]() | Report | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 7,023 Referee: Brandon Artis | |
Note: Match was played with 30-minute halves.[8] |
Competitive
[edit]MLS
[edit]Standings
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | New York City FC | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 59 | 45 | +14 | 56 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
4 | D.C. United | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 60 | 50 | +10 | 51 | |
5 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 51 | |
6 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 49 | 50 | −1 | 50 | |
7 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 14 | 16 | 4 | 47 | 53 | −6 | 46 |
Overall table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Portland Timbers | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 54 | 48 | +6 | 54 |
9 | D.C. United | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 60 | 50 | +10 | 51 |
10 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 51 |
11 | Philadelphia Union | 34 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 49 | 50 | −1 | 50 |
12 | Real Salt Lake | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 55 | 58 | −3 | 49 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Aggregate table
[edit]As Toronto FC won MLS Cup 2017, one of the U.S. berths for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League had to be reallocated, to the U.S. non-champions with the best aggregate record over the 2017 and 2018 MLS regular seasons. As the top ranked team in the table, Atlanta United FC, also qualified for the Champions League by winning MLS Cup 2018, the Champions League spot via the aggregate table was instead awarded to the second-placed team, the New York Red Bulls.[9][10]
Note: Only U.S. teams are listed in this table.
Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 | Sporting Kansas City | 68 | 30 | 17 | 21 | 105 | 69 | +36 | 111 | 2019 CONCACAF Champions League[a] |
6 | Portland Timbers | 68 | 30 | 21 | 17 | 114 | 98 | +16 | 107 | |
7 | Columbus Crew | 68 | 30 | 23 | 15 | 96 | 94 | +2 | 105 | |
8 | FC Dallas | 68 | 27 | 19 | 22 | 100 | 92 | +8 | 103 | |
9 | Real Salt Lake | 68 | 27 | 28 | 13 | 104 | 113 | −9 | 94 |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) total wins; 3) total goal differential; 4) total goals scored; 5) disciplinary points; 6) away goals scored; 7) away goal differential; 8) coin toss or drawing of lots
Notes:
- ^ As 2017 U.S. Open Cup champions (USA2)
Results summary
[edit]Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | Pts | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
34 | 51 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 24 | −13 |
Source: MLS standings
Pld = Matches played; Pts = Points; W = Matches won; T = Matches tied; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference
Results by round
[edit]Match results
[edit]On December 19, 2017, the league announced the home openers for every club.[11] Just like in 2016, Columbus opened the season on the road against the defending MLS Cup champions, playing at Toronto FC in the first match of the MLS season. Columbus then opened the season at home on March 10, facing Montreal Impact.
The schedule for the remainder of the 2018 season was released on January 4, 2018.[12] Crew SC played three times against Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union, twice against every other Eastern Conference club, and once against every Western Conference club.
March 3 1 | Toronto FC | 0–2 | Columbus Crew SC | Toronto, ON |
1:00 PM EST | Report | Martínez ![]() Higuaín ![]() Zardes ![]() | Stadium: BMO Field Attendance: 26,633 Referee: Ismail Elfath |
March 10 2 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–2 | Montreal Impact | Columbus, OH |
1:00 PM EST | Higuaín ![]() Zardes ![]() Steffen ![]() | Report | Krolicki ![]() Piatti ![]() Edwards ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 11,098 Referee: Chris Penso |
March 17 3 | Philadelphia Union | 0–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Chester, PA |
2:00 PM EDT | Bedoya ![]() Rosenberry ![]() | Report | Artur ![]() Higuaín ![]() | Stadium: Talen Energy Stadium Attendance: 15,323 Referee: Nima Saghafi |
March 24 4 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–1 | D.C. United | Columbus, OH |
6:00 PM EDT | Abubakar ![]() Valenzuela ![]() ![]() Clark ![]() Pedro Santos ![]() | Report | Asad ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 8,443 Referee: Drew Fischer |
March 31 5 | Columbus Crew SC | 1–2 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Columbus, OH |
3:00 PM EDT | Zardes ![]() Valenzuela ![]() | Report | de Jong ![]() Shea ![]() Kamara ![]() Felipe ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 8,992 Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero |
April 7 6 | Chicago Fire | 1–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Bridgeview, IL |
8:30 PM EDT | Kappelhof ![]() Nikolić ![]() ![]() Sánchez ![]() | Report | Artur ![]() | Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 11,023 Referee: Jair Marrufo |
April 14 7 | D.C. United | 1–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Annapolis, MD |
7:00 PM EDT | Segura ![]() Arriola ![]() Clark ![]() | Report | Higuaín ![]() Jonathan ![]() | Stadium: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Attendance: 12,396 Referee: Ismail Elfath |
April 21 8 | Columbus Crew SC | 2–2 | New England Revolution | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Farrell ![]() Zardes ![]() Higuaín ![]() | Report | Dielna ![]() Bunbury ![]() Zahibo ![]() Penilla ![]() Fagúndez ![]() Somi ![]() Turner ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 11,264 Referee: Chris Penso |
April 28 9 | Columbus Crew SC | 2–1 | San Jose Earthquakes | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Harrison ![]() Hansen ![]() Valenzuela ![]() Grella ![]() | Report | Godoy ![]() Hoesen ![]() ![]() Jungwirth ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 11,479 Referee: Fotis Bazakos |
May 5 10 | Seattle Sounders FC | 0–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Seattle, WA |
4:00 PM EDT | Alonso ![]() | Report | Pedro Santos ![]() Trapp ![]() | Stadium: CenturyLink Field Attendance: 39,515 Referee: Hilario Grajeda |
May 9 11 | Columbus Crew SC | 1–0 | Philadelphia Union | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Jonathan ![]() Zardes ![]() | Report | Elliott ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 7,683 Referee: Ramy Touchan |
May 12 12 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–0 | Chicago Fire | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Higuaín ![]() Zardes ![]() ![]() | Report | Ellis ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 11,108 Referee: Allen Chapman |
May 19 13 | New England Revolution | 0–1 | Columbus Crew SC | Foxborough, MA |
7:30 PM EDT | Caicedo ![]() Delamea ![]() Dielna ![]() Anibaba ![]() | Report | Valenzuela ![]() Abubakar ![]() | Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 14,087 Referee: Sorin Stoica |
May 27 14 | Sporting Kansas City | 0–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Kansas City, KS |
6:00 PM EDT | Besler ![]() | Report | Higuaín ![]() Harrison ![]() | Stadium: Children's Mercy Park Attendance: 20,697 Referee: Robert Sibiga |
June 2 15 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–3 | Toronto FC | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Artur ![]() Williams ![]() Zardes ![]() Crognale ![]() Higuaín ![]() | Report | Osorio ![]() Vázquez ![]() Hernandez ![]() Ricketts ![]() ![]() Giovinco ![]() Bono ![]() Fraser ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 12,305 Referee: Nima Saghafi |
June 9 16 | Columbus Crew SC | 1–1 | New York Red Bulls | Columbus, OH |
5:00 PM EDT | Zardes ![]() | Report | Muyl ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 11,246 Referee: Alan Kelly |
June 13 17 | Columbus Crew SC | 0–2 | Atlanta United FC | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Trapp ![]() | Report | Parkhurst ![]() Ambrose ![]() Martínez ![]() Escobar ![]() Villalba ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 10,132 Referee: Ted Unkel |
June 23 18 | Los Angeles FC | 2–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Los Angeles, CA |
10:30 PM EDT | Ciman ![]() Diomande ![]() Atuesta ![]() | Report | Abubakar ![]() Pedro Santos ![]() Higuaín ![]() Valenzuela ![]() | Stadium: Banc of California Stadium Attendance: 22,000 Referee: Kevin Stott |
June 30 19 | Columbus Crew SC | 2–1 | Real Salt Lake | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Zardes ![]() Sosa ![]() ![]() | Report | Sunny ![]() Beckerman ![]() Rusnák ![]() Savarino ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 16,680 Referee: Drew Fischer |
July 7 20 | LA Galaxy | 4–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Carson, CA |
10:30 PM EDT | Skjelvik ![]() Kamara ![]() Ibrahimović ![]() Pontius ![]() Alessandrini ![]() | Report | Williams ![]() | Stadium: StubHub Center Attendance: 21,211 Referee: Hilario Grajeda |
July 14 21 | New York City FC | 2–0 | Columbus Crew SC | New York City, NY |
7:00 PM EDT | Medina ![]() Tinnerholm ![]() | Report | Jonathan ![]() Zardes ![]() Grella ![]() Sosa ![]() | Stadium: Yankee Stadium Attendance: 21,085 Referee: Armando Villarreal |
July 21 22 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–2 | Orlando City SC | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Jonathan ![]() Zardes ![]() Pedro Santos ![]() Trapp ![]() Williams ![]() | Report | Kljestan ![]() ![]() Schuler ![]() Pinho ![]() El-Munir ![]() Yotún ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 14,052 Referee: Silviu Petrescu |
July 28 23 | New York Red Bulls | 2–3 | Columbus Crew SC | Harrison, NJ |
7:00 PM EDT | Collin ![]() Jonathan ![]() Royer ![]() | Report | Jonathan ![]() Mullins ![]() Davis ![]() Valenzuela ![]() Steffen ![]() Artur ![]() | Stadium: Red Bull Arena Attendance: 16,459 Referee: Sorin Stoica |
August 11 24 | Columbus Crew SC | 1–0 | Houston Dynamo | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Zardes ![]() ![]() Pedro Santos ![]() | Report | Leonardo ![]() Lundqvist ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 15,891 Referee: Mark Geiger |
August 19 25 | Atlanta United FC | 3–1 | Columbus Crew SC | Atlanta, GA |
4:00 PM EDT | Martínez ![]() McCann ![]() Villalba ![]() ![]() Almirón ![]() ![]() Guzan ![]() | Report | Zardes ![]() Artur ![]() | Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium Attendance: 45,303 Referee: Jair Marrufo |
August 23 26 | Chicago Fire | 1–1 | Columbus Crew SC | Bridgeview, IL |
7:00 PM EDT | de Leeuw ![]() Nikolić ![]() Katai ![]() Schweinsteiger ![]() | Report | Higuaín ![]() Hansen ![]() | Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 8,551 Referee: Armando Villarreal |
September 1 27 | Columbus Crew SC | 2–1 | New York City FC | Columbus, OH |
8:00 PM EDT | Harrison ![]() Meram ![]() | Report | Wallace ![]() Tajouri-Shradi ![]() Sweat ![]() Ibeagha ![]() Ring ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 11,991 Referee: Alan Kelly |
September 15 28 | FC Dallas | 0–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Frisco, TX |
8:00 PM EDT | Report | Clark ![]() Abubakar ![]() | Stadium: Toyota Stadium Attendance: 16,030 Referee: Hilario Grajeda |
September 19 29 | Portland Timbers | 3–2 | Columbus Crew SC | Portland, OR |
10:30 PM EDT | Polo ![]() ![]() Guzmán ![]() ![]() Abubakar ![]() | Report | Hansen ![]() Sauro ![]() Trapp ![]() Maloney ![]() | Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 21,144 Referee: Ted Unkel |
September 22 30 | Columbus Crew SC | 2–1 | Colorado Rapids | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Zardes ![]() Jonathan ![]() Higuaín ![]() | Report | Gashi ![]() Wynne ![]() Acosta ![]() Smith ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 19,121 Referee: Allen Chapman |
September 29 31 | Columbus Crew SC | 0–0 | Philadelphia Union | Columbus, OH |
7:30 PM EDT | Report | Fabinho ![]() Bedoya ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 12,441 Referee: Drew Fischer |
October 6 32 | Montreal Impact | 3–0 | Columbus Crew SC | Montreal, QC |
3:00 PM EDT | Taïder ![]() Silva ![]() Piatti ![]() Azira ![]() | Report | Pedro Santos ![]() Jonathan ![]() | Stadium: Stade Saputo Attendance: 19,015 Referee: Alan Kelly |
October 21 33 | Orlando City SC | 2–1 | Columbus Crew SC | Orlando, FL |
3:00 PM EDT | Dwyer ![]() Yotún ![]() Kljestan ![]() | Report | Jonathan ![]() Higuaín ![]() | Stadium: Orlando City Stadium Attendance: 23,642 Referee: Kevin Stott |
October 28 34 | Columbus Crew SC | 3–2 | Minnesota United FC | Columbus, OH |
4:30 PM EDT | Zardes ![]() | Report | Calvo ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 17,677 Referee: Robert Sibiga |
Postseason
[edit]November 1 Knockout Round | D.C. United | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (2–3 p) | Columbus Crew SC | Washington, D.C. |
8:00 PM EDT | Brillant ![]() DeLeon ![]() | Report | Higuaín ![]() ![]() Sosa ![]() | Stadium: Audi Field Attendance: 20,600 Referee: Allen Chapman |
Penalties | ||||
Rooney ![]() Asad ![]() Stieber ![]() Acosta ![]() DeLeon ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
November 4 Semifinals leg 1 | Columbus Crew SC | 1–0 | New York Red Bulls | Columbus, OH |
3:00 PM EST | Valenzuela ![]() Zardes ![]() | Report | Davis ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 12,892 Referee: Nima Saghafi |
November 11 Semifinals leg 2 | New York Red Bulls | 3–0 (3–1 agg.) | Columbus Crew SC | Harrison, NJ |
7:30 PM EST | Muyl ![]() Royer ![]() | Report | Stadium: Red Bull Arena Attendance: 22,789 Referee: Alan Kelly |
U.S. Open Cup
[edit]June 6 Fourth round | Columbus Crew SC | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (9–10 p) | Chicago Fire | Columbus, OH |
7:00 PM EDT | Martínez ![]() Sosa ![]() Abu ![]() Crognale ![]() Jahn ![]() | Report | Nikolić ![]() Ramos ![]() McCarty ![]() Katai ![]() | Stadium: Mapfre Stadium Attendance: 4,992 Referee: Marcos de Oliveira |
Penalties | ||||
Valenzuela ![]() Jiménez ![]() Argudo ![]() Abubakar ![]() Jahn ![]() Martínez ![]() Crognale ![]() Sosa ![]() Abu ![]() Opoku ![]() Ketterer ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Statistics
[edit]Appearances and goals
[edit]Federico Higuaín entered the season sitting fifth in club history for most goals, needing three to pass Edson Buddle for fourth all-time.[13] He tallied a penalty kick against Chicago on May 12, cracking the tie with Buddle.[14] Higuaín had also begun the year having appeared 163 times for Crew SC, needing seven appearances to crack the top ten in club history. He started each of the first ten games, leaping Frankie Hejduk for ninth place.[13] By the end of the season, Higuaín moved up the charts in all three categories: eighth all-time in appearances, with 196; third all-time in goals, with 58; and second all-time in assists, with 64.
Upon his return to the club midway through the season, Justin Meram had the chance to add to his previous totals with the club; he sat fifth in appearances, sixth in goals, and tied for seventh in assists. He needed to play 28 times, score ten goals, or tally six assists in order to move up the charts.[13] At the end of the year, Meram still sat fifth in appearances (with 225) and sixth in goals (with 43), but had taken sole possession of seventh in assists (with 36).
Wil Trapp began the season having appeared 144 times in all competitions for Crew SC, needing to play in 27 games to crack the all-time top ten. Although he missed several games while on international duty, Trapp appeared for the 27th time on the season in a draw with Philadelphia on September 29.[15] He initially jumped into the table in a tie for tenth place with Hejduk.[13] By the end of the season, Trapp had appeared in 177 games for the club, enough for sole possession of tenth.
No. | Pos. | Name | MLS | MLS Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
2 | MF | ![]() | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
3 | DF | ![]() | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
4 | DF | ![]() | 27 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 1 |
6 | MF | ![]() | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
7 | MF | ![]() | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 |
8 | MF | ![]() | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
9 | MF | ![]() | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
10 | MF | ![]() | 30 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 8 |
11 | FW | ![]() | 33 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 20 |
12 | GK | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
13 | MF | ![]() | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
14 | FW | ![]() | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
16 | MF | ![]() | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
17 | DF | ![]() | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
18 | MF | ![]() | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
19 | DF | ![]() | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
20 | MF | ![]() | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
21 | DF | ![]() | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
22 | DF | ![]() | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
23 | GK | ![]() | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 0 |
24 | GK | ![]() | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
25 | DF | ![]() | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 |
26 | MF | ![]() | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
27 | FW | ![]() | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
28 | MF | ![]() | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 3 |
30 | GK | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
31 | DF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
32 | FW | ![]() | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
Players who left the club during the season: | ||||||||||
5 | MF | ![]() | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Source: Columbus stats
Disciplinary record
[edit]No. | Pos. | Name | MLS | MLS Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |||
2 | MF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
3 | DF | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
4 | DF | ![]() | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
6 | MF | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
7 | MF | ![]() | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
8 | MF | ![]() | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
10 | MF | ![]() | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
11 | FW | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
13 | MF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
17 | DF | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
18 | MF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
19 | DF | ![]() | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
20 | MF | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
21 | DF | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
22 | DF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
23 | GK | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
25 | DF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
28 | MF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
31 | DF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Players who left the club during the season: | ||||||||||
5 | MF | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: Columbus stats
Clean sheets
[edit]Zack Steffen entered the season with the seventh-most clean sheets in club history. He needed to keep two on the season in order to pass Brad Friedel for sixth all-time,[13] which he did just three games into the campaign. Three saves in a scoreless draw with Philadelphia on March 17 moved Steffen up on the all-time chart.[16] He promptly passed Mark Dougherty for fifth place, thanks to a 1–0 victory over the Union on May 9. Steffen finished the season with 22 career shutouts for Crew SC, good for fifth place in club history.
No. | Name | MLS | MLS Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Total | Games Played |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
23 | ![]() | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 32 |
24 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
30 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Source: Columbus stats
Transfers
[edit]In
[edit]Pos. | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Completed permanent transfer. | December 6, 2017 | [17] |
GK | ![]() | ![]() | LA receives a Fourth Round pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. | December 13, 2017 | [18] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Colorado receives a Second Round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. | December 15, 2017 | [19] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Acquired as a Discovery Signing. | January 9, 2018 | [20] |
FW | ![]() | ![]() | Selected in the second round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. Signed as a Generation Adidas player. | January 19, 2018 | [21] |
FW | ![]() | ![]() | LA receives FW Ola Kamara. | January 20, 2018 | [22] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Signed as a free agent. | February 2, 2018 | [23] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Selected in the third round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. | March 1, 2018 | [24][25] |
GK | ![]() | ![]() | Selected in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. | March 1, 2018 | [26][25] |
FW | ![]() | ![]() | D.C. receives $150,000 in targeted allocation money. | July 11, 2018 | [27] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Orlando receives $750,000 in targeted allocation money, a 2019 international roster slot. | August 3, 2018 | [28] |
SuperDraft
[edit]The following players were selected by Columbus in the MLS SuperDraft, but did not sign a contract with the club.
Pos. | Player | College | Notes | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Selected in the second round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. Signed with ![]() | January 19, 2018 | [29][30] |
Loan in
[edit]Pos. | Player | Parent club | Length/Notes | Beginning | End | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | ![]() | ![]() | Duration of the 2018 MLS season, with an option to purchase at the end of the season. Signed as a Young Designated Player. | January 26, 2018 | November 26, 2018 | [31][32] |
Out
[edit]Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MF | ![]() | Option declined. Retired. | December 1, 2017 | [33][34] | |
FW | ![]() | ![]() | Contract expired. Signed for Pachuca on December 26, 2017. | December 1, 2017 | [33][35] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Option declined. Signed for Inter for the 2018 Spring UPSL season. | December 1, 2017 | [33][36] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Option declined. Signed for Swope Park on January 8, 2018. | December 1, 2017 | [33][37] |
MF | ![]() | Option declined. | December 1, 2017 | [33] | |
DF | ![]() | ![]() | Selected by LAFC in the 2017 MLS Expansion Draft. | December 12, 2017 | [38] |
GK | ![]() | ![]() | Option declined. Traded to NYCFC in exchange for a Fourth Round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. | December 14, 2017 | [33][39] |
DF | ![]() | ![]() | Option declined. Traded to Seattle in exchange for $50,000 in general allocation money. | December 14, 2017 | [33][40] |
FW | ![]() | ![]() | Columbus receives FW Gyasi Zardes, $400,000 in targeted allocation money, future considerations. | January 20, 2018 | [22] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Columbus receives $1,050,000 in allocation money, a 2019 international roster slot. | January 29, 2018 | [41] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Columbus receives an undisclosed transfer fee. | October 4, 2018 | [42] |
Loan out
[edit]Pos. | Player | Loanee club | Length/Notes | Beginning | End | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | ![]() | ![]() | Duration of the 2018 USL season. | March 7, 2018 | October 21, 2018 | [43][44] |
DF | ![]() | ![]() | On a match-by-match basis. | March 15, 2018 | May 5, 2018 | [45][46] |
May 22, 2018 | June 2, 2018 | [47][48] | ||||
June 18, 2018 | November 4, 2018 | [49][50] | ||||
FW | ![]() | ![]() | On a match-by-match basis. | April 27, 2018 | May 18, 2018 | [51][52] |
DF | ![]() | ![]() | On a match-by-match basis. | May 25, 2018 | June 30, 2018 | [53][54] |
FW | ![]() | ![]() | On a match-by-match basis. | July 24, 2018 | October 14, 2018 | [55][56] |
MF | ![]() | ![]() | Duration of the 2018 Eliteserien. | August 10, 2018 | October 4, 2018 | [57][42] |