It’s a big week for goalkeepers Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC) and Joe Willis (Houston Dynamo) as their teams enter the first leg of the conference championships in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. But it’s an equally important moment for youth players in their communities as every save during the conference championships and the MLS Cup final will bring two new soccer nets to fields in their city. It’s all part of a special program from Allstate, a sponsor
Photo Credit: Ric Kruszynski/ISNSoccer.com While American soccer fans are focused on tomorrow’s USA vs. Panama match in World Cup qualifying, one of Panama’s top young talents is already plying his trade in MLS with Columbus Crew SC. Cristian Martinez, a talented midfielder from El Chorrillo, Panama City, is one of just nine current Panamanian players competing in MLS. While Martinez may not have the notoriety of past Panamanian stars like Jaime Penedo, Blas Pérez, and Luis Tejeda right now, he
Photo Credit: Richard Kruszynski/ISNSoccer.com To say that the Cleveland Indians are on an epic run is an incredible understatement. They are in the midst of a 19-game winning streak, one of the longest and most impressive in the modern era. They are hitting home runs at a frantic pace: 38 home runs in 19 games, their opposition scored only 32 runs during that same period. The Indians also boast a +100 run differential over 19 games, the highest total since
Photo Credit: Ken Tishenkel/ISNSoccer.com Columbus Crew SC responded to last week’s hamming by Toronto FC with a resounding 3-0 win over the current MLS Cup holders Seattle Sounders FC. Tonight’s performance was in stark contrast to last week, with the team playing with energy and speed throughout and pinpoint finishing providing the key to the win. The Crew struck early on and it was Federico Higuain with his fifth goal of the season on 10 minutes. A loose ball out of
Columbus Crew SC continued their impressive home record this season with their third win on the trot at MAPFRE Stadium, the winning goal coming from Justin Meram for his fourth off the season. Tonight’s game was the first of three against Toronto FC over the next six weeks. Photo Credit: Ken Tishenkel/ISNSoccer.com Toronto had started the game in impressive fashion, pressing high up the field and forcing Columbus to play long from the back and dominating possession in the early exchanges. The
Photo Credit: Brent Durken/ISNSoccer.com Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club has signed seven-year Major League Soccer veteran defender and former player Josh Williams after selecting him in Stage Two of the 2016 MLS Re-Entry Draft. By re-joining Crew SC, Williams becomes one of seven Black & Gold players on the current roster that have made more than 100 regular-season appearances in MLS. The defender returns to Columbus for his second stint with Crew SC after he was originally signed
Photo Credit: Joseph Raja/ISNSoccer.com Columbus Crew SC today announced that the club selected defender and former player Josh Williams with the third pick in Stage Two of Major League Soccer’s 2016 Re-Entry Draft, held today via conference call. Following the selection, per rules of Stage Two, the club now will offer Williams a genuine offer. Williams, an Ohio native, is a seven-year MLS veteran and has made 103 regular season appearances in the league. Williams previously played for Crew SC from
Photo Credit: Richard Kruszynski/ISNSoccer.com Columbus Crew SC today announced that it has exercised the contract options on Designated Player and midfielder Federico Higuain and midfielders Justin Meram and Wil Trapp. The announcements of additional roster decisions are set to follow in the near future. Higuain, Meram and Trapp have combined for 370 matches played, 64 goals and 70 assists for Crew SC, with Meram currently the longest tenured player on the club after being drafted in 2011. When the trio of
Photo Credit: Ken Tishenkel/ISNSoccer.com It’s no secret that Kei Kamara has had a rough week. Everyone’s aware of the situation(s) that led to his trade to the New England Revolution. I think it’s important to look back at the good times, a player that has been truly brilliant at every stop of his career. And he is not done yet. This enigmatic talisman is, after all, the star that brought Crew SC to the brink of a championship last season. Whether the
