The 2019 Columbus Crew SC season was the club's twenty-fourth season of existence and their twenty-fourth consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer. This was the club's first season under head coach Caleb Porter. Columbus also competed in the U.S. Open Cup and took part in the Carolina Challenge Cup during preseason. The season covered the period from November 12, 2018 to the start of the 2020 Major League Soccer season.
Preseason and friendlies
On December 21, 2018, Crew SC officially announced its preseason schedule, with three confirmed matches. The club began preseason by spending two days in Lewis Center, Ohio before traveling to Chula Vista, California, for a week-long training camp. On January 21, Columbus announced the addition of two friendly matches, both taking place while the club trains in California and behind closed doors. Crew SC began their friendlies by playing Japanese club Vissel Kobe to a 0–0 draw, and followed up the draw with a 1–0 victory over Mexican club Tijuana.[1] An ACL tear to Milton Valenzuela ended his 2019 season before it ever started, which caused Crew SC to acquire former player Waylon Francis for cover.[2] The following preseason game, the club beat fellow MLS side Los Angeles FC 4–2. A Jonathan Mensah own goal followed by a Patrick Mullens strike meant that Columbus were deadlocked at halftime, before scoring three goals in the second half – a brace by JJ Williams and a goal by Justin Meram.[3] After another week in Ohio, Columbus traveled to Charleston, South Carolina to play in the Carolina Challenge Cup, where Crew SC would tie the first two games 1–1, coming from behind to tie in both games, with goals scored by Gyasi Zardes and Robinho, respectively. The final match of the Carolina Challenge Cup had Columbus facing off against FC Cincinnati, where Columbus emerged victorious, winning 3–0 off a Zardes brace and Pedro Santos goal, and claiming the Carolina Challenge Cup for the third consecutive season.[4]
Crew SC's season began with a 1–1 draw at home to the New York Red Bulls on March 2, with a headed goal from Gastón Sauro off of a corner from Federico Higuaín. That goal would be Sauro's first for the club. Robinho would come in to the game in the 79th minute to make his Crew SC debut, while Waylon Francis made his return to the Black and Gold after spending the 2018 season with the Seattle Sounders. The following week led Crew SC to Foxborough to take on the New England Revolution, where Columbus would earn their first road win on the season due in part to two goals by Gyasi Zardes and a penalty save by Zack Steffen, while this loss for the Revolution snapped their 12-game home opener unbeaten streak.[7][8] On March 16, Columbus would earn their third straight result, a 1–0 win thanks to a Sauro header off of a corner – this time from Pedro Santos. Justin Meram recorded his 200th regular-season appearance for Crew SC in this game as well.[9] Columbus visited Philadelphia on March 23 and suffered a heavy 3–0 defeat as Crew SC had two debuts for the club: Joe Bendik and JJ Williams.[10] The first month of the 2019 season ended on a high note as Crew SC beat Atlanta United 2–0 on a wet evening in Columbus, with Pedro Santos scoring in the second minute Gyasi Zardes scoring in the 39th. This contest would be Harrison Afful's 100th regular-season appearance for Crew SC.[11]
The month of April was turbulent for Columbus as they managed to score just two goals in the entire month. The first was on an April 6th clash at home against the Revolution. A headed goal from Josh Williams from a Higuaín set-piece, as well as a double yellow card by the Revolution's Michael Mancienne gave Crew SC a 1–0 win. The following week, the club were blanked in Montréal on the 13th, and then travelled home for two straight games, a 3–1 loss versus Portland on the 20th, with the loan Columbus goal being scored by Santos via a chip over goalkeeper Jeff Attinella. This was Columbus's first home loss on the year.[12] Crew SC completed their second straight home match with a 1–0 loss midweek versus D.C. United, and subsequently followed that shutout with a second one, a 2–0 loss at Houston.
The first match in May led to similar results as the previous four. while in the nation's capital, D.C. United took the lead when Luciano Acosta capitalized on a deflection from a set piece. Just before halftime, Wayne Rooney converted a penalty in stoppage time following a handball by Wil Trapp. In the 61st minute, Paul Arriola extended D.C. United's lead to 3–0 with a far-post shot. Crew SC pulled one back in the 75th minute when a Robinho corner slipped through goalkeeper Bill Hamid's hands and into the net.[13] in the following match, Crew SC got back to their winning ways, beating an LA Galaxy side at home 3–1, with Zardes, Higuain and Hector Jimenez scoring the goals. This was Jimenez's first goal in over five years. History was also made in this game, as Higuain passed Robert Warzycha for the most assists in the regular season for the Black and Gold, while David Guzmán made his Columbus debut as well.[14] The May 11th clash was against another Los Angeles side - league leaders in Los Angeles FC. A game which saw the Crew SC debut of David Accam was largely forgettable, as Crew SC lost 3–0 at Mapfre Stadium.[15] The following weekend was a shutout loss at Minnesota United, with the only goal of the match coming in the 70th minute from former Crew SC player Ethan Finlay.[16] on May 25, After Columbus came back from two one-goal deficits, the Colorado Rapids secured a 3–2 victory with an 89th-minute goal in Commerce City, Colorado. The Rapids opened the scoring in the 23rd minute when Tommy Smith headed in a Jack Price corner at the near post. Crew SC responded five minutes later with Pedro Santos scoring from his left foot after a headed pass from Héctor Jiménez. Colorado regained the lead in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time, as Jonathan Lewis's low shot deflected into the near post. In the 54th minute, Columbus equalized again when Federico Higuaín's cross found Gyasi Zardes, who redirected the ball past Tim Howard. The match remained level until the 89th minute, when Colorado's Nicolás Mezquida capitalized on a loose ball from a corner, tucking it into the top-left corner for the game-winner.[17] Injury news befell the team, as Designated Player Federico Higuaín tore his ACL during this game and would miss the remainder of the season.[18]
Beginning in June, the final match before the Gold Cup break, Columbus took on New York City FC at home and scored first, with the goal coming in the 28th minute via a penalty kick taken by Zardes. NYCFC scored second in the 57th minute to tie it up, only for Pedro Santos to net four minutes later to allow Columbus a one-goal lead. Columbus, however, would not hold on to this lead as NYCFC scored in the 76th minute to take one point from Columbus. This game would be the final game for Zack Steffen in Columbus, as he transferred to Manchester City on July 9th.[19] After the Gold Cup break and the resumption of league play, Columbus were shut out in back-to-back games at home, first losing 1–0 to Sporting Kansas City, including a red card shown to Harrison Afful, followed by a 2–0 loss to Orlando City.[20][21]
The club's torrid form continued into July, with Columbus once again getting shut out, this time in Sandy, Utah by Real Salt Lake, 1–0. This game marked the Crew SC debut for homegrownAboubacar Keita.[22] On July 6, Crew SC scored their first goal in league play in over a month while facing off against the Seattle Sounders. Pedro Santos tucked home a penalty in the 14th minute. Columbus would wind up losing, as Nico Lodeiro scored in the sixth minute of stoppage time to put his club ahead 2–1 and snatch an away victory for the Sounders.[23] Columbus would lose their next game at Orlando City 1–0, and the following game would come from behind to tie Chicago Fire 2–2 thanks to a 90th minute header by debutant Romario Williams.[24] The July 20th affair between the Crew and the Montreal Impact came with the debut of Eloy Room, as well as the first league goal for David Accam as Columbus beat the Quebecois side 2–1, with Josh Williams scoring the other goal for the Black and Gold.[25] the following week was another victory for Crew SC, including several firsts for players: Luis Argudo scored his first goal, and Pedro Santos scored his first brace for the club as Columbus won 3–2 at New York Red Bulls.[26]
Source: MLS 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
Results summary
Overall
Home
Away
Pld
Pts
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
34
38
10
16
8
39
47
−8
6
6
5
21
22
−1
4
10
3
18
25
−7
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
Round
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
Stadium
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
H
H
A
A
H
H
A
A
H
H
H
A
H
A
A
H
A
A
H
H
A
A
H
A
A
H
A
Result
D
W
W
L
W
W
L
L
L
L
L
W
L
L
L
D
L
L
L
L
L
D
W
W
D
D
D
L
W
D
W
D
W
L
Source: Columbus schedule A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Match results
On December 20, 2018, the league announced the home openers for every club. Columbus will make their season debut at Mapfre Stadium on the opening day of the season, playing host to New York Red Bulls – the team that eliminated Crew SC from the playoffs in 2017. Columbus will also take part in the home-opening matches for two other clubs, with a trip to Gillette Stadium to face New England Revolution on March 9 and a visit to Saputo Stadium to take on Montreal Impact on April 13.[27]
Federico Higuaín entered the season with 196 career appearances for Crew SC, good for eighth place all-time, and 58 goals for the club, good for third place. In order to move up the charts in each category, he needed to appear in four matches and score 17 goals.[29] He appeared for the fourth time on the season on March 23, moving up the charts in the Crew's defeat against Philadelphia Union.[30]
Justin Meram also came into the 2019 season sitting in the top ten in club history in both appearances and goals: his 225 appearances were good for fifth place in club history, and his 43 goals were good for sixth. In order to move up, Meram needed to play in 17 games and score 10 goals.[29] He was traded on May 7, however, after playing just nine matches without scoring, departing without moving up in either category.[31]
Club captain Wil Trapp was tenth place in club history in appearances coming into the season, with 177 games played for the Crew. In order to move up, he needed to appear at least 11 times in all competitions.[29] Trapp made his 11th appearance on May 8, starting in the club's victory against LA Galaxy.[32]
Zack Steffen came into the season with the fifth-most shutouts in club history, keeping 22 through his first three seasons with the club. In order to move up on the all-time charts, he needed to keep two clean sheets in 2019.[29] Steffen accomplished that mark in just three matches, moving up the chart following a clean sheet against FC Dallas on March 16.[33]
The following players were selected by Columbus in the MLS SuperDraft, but did not sign a contract with the club. Crew SC passed with the 91st overall pick.[48]
^"ヴィッセル神戸USAツアー2019のお知らせ" [Announcement of Vissel Kobe USA Tour 2019]. Vissel-Kobe.co.jp (in Japanese). Vissel Kobe. December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
