COLUMBUS CREW vs. NASHVILLE SC
Wednesday, July 21, 2021; Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio, 7:30 p.m. ET
2021 SEASON RECORDS
GP W-L-T PTS GF GA
Crew 13 5-3-5 20 15 12
at home 6 4-0-2 14 11 5
Nashville SC 13 5-1-7 22 21 14
on road 3 0-1-2 2 2 4
UPCOMING MATCHES
CREW
Sat. July 24 at Atlanta
Fri. July 30 at NYCFC
Wed. Aug. 4 D.C. United
Sat. Aug. 7 Atlanta
UPCOMING MATCHES
NASHVILLE SC
Sat. July 24 Cincinnati
Sun. Aug. 1 at Toronto
Wed. Aug. 4 at New England
Sun. Aug. 8 at Inter Miami
COLUMBUS CREW vs. NASHVILLE SC
Wednesday, July 21, 2021; Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio, 7:30 p.m. ET
NASHVILLE SC
Sat. July 24 Cincinnati
Sun. Aug. 1 at Toronto
Wed. Aug. 4 at New England
Sun. Aug. 8 at Inter Miami
REFEREES
REFEREE: Rosendo Mendoza.
AR1 (bench): Brian Poeschel; AR2 (opposite): Jeffrey Swartzel;
4th: Lukasz Szpala; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Claudiu Badea
TEAM NEWS
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: NSH: Anibal Godoy, Alex Muyl
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: CLB: Pedro Santos … NSH: Daniel Lovitz, Luke
Haakenson
INJURED LIST: CLB: Aidan Morris
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: CLB: Derrick Etienne Jr. (HAI; Gold Cup); Kevin Molino (TRI; Gold
Cup); Gyasi Zardes (USA; Gold Cup); Liam Fraser (CAN; Gold Cup) … NSH: Walker Zimmerman
(USA; Gold Cup); Alistair Johnston (CAN; Gold Cup); Anibal Godoy (PAN; Gold Cup)
TEAM LEADERS
CREW
G: 5 Zelarayan
A: 3 Santos
SHT: 30 Zelarayan
SOG: 14 Zelarayan
FC: 23 Santos
FS: 26 Zelarayan
OF: 5 Zardes
C: 3 4 players tied
E: 1 Afful
NASHVILLE SC
G: 7 Mukhtar
A: 5 Leal
SHT: 39 Mukhtar
SOG: 21 Leal
FC: 21 Muyl
FS: 28 Leal
OF: 5 3 players tied
C: 4 Godoy/Muyl
E: 0
Regional TV: Bally Sports Ohio Neil Sika (play-by-play) Jordan Angeli (analyst)
Brett Hiltbrand (sideline)
97.1 The Fan [Radio]: Chris Doran (play-by-play)
ColumbusCrew.com Spanish Audio Stream: Juan Valladares (play-by-play)
OHIOHEALTH PLAYER AVAILABILITY REPORT
OUT: Artur – R Hip Injury Aidan Morris – L Knee Injury Milton Valenzuela – R Thigh Injury Vito Wormgoor – R Thigh
QUESTIONABLE: Josh Williams – L Ankle Injury
Health and Safety Protocols
A player may be listed as “Questionable” or “Out” due to Health and Safety Protocols
for the following reasons:
• Quarantine due to participating in high risk behavior. • Quarantine related to being a high risk close contact. • Pending COVID-19 test results. • An inconclusive COVID-19 test result. • A positive COVID-19 test or a confirmed case of COVID-19. • Other illness not related to COVID-19
LAST MATCH RECAP
COLUMBUS CREW DEFEATS NEW YORK CITY FC 2-1
On Saturday, Columbus Crew hosted New York City FC at Lower.
com Field. Columbus opened the scoring in first-half stoppagetime from midfielder Darlington Nagbe with midfielder Pedro
Santos adding an assist. New York City equalized in the 47th
minute from midfielder Jesus Medina. Columbus regained the
lead in the 62nd minute after midfielder Lucas Zelarayan scored a
direct free-kick goal, his fourth direct free-kick goal of the season.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room made six saves as Columbus took a 2-1 win
over NYCFC. With the win, Columbus maintains a five-match home
unbeaten streak against New York City, dating back to the 2018
regular season.
COLUMBUS CREW VS. NASHVILLE SC AT A GLANCE
Columbus Crew record: 1-0-0 (2 GF, 0 GA)
Home games: 1-0-0 (2 GF, 0 GA)
Road games: 0-0-0 (0 GF, 0 GA)
THE CREW HOSTS NASHVILLE SC ON WEDNESDAY
Columbus Crew returns to Lower.com Field to host Nashville SC
on Wednesday, July 21. The match is set to be the second all-time
regular-season meeting between the two sides. The match will be
the first time the sides face off since last season’s Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
LAST REGULAR-SEASON MEETING
Columbus Crew and Nashville SC met once during the 2020
regular season, when the Crew hosted Nashville on September
19 at Historic Crew Stadium. Columbus took a 2-0 victory over the
expansion side with second-half goals scored by midfielder Pedro
Santos and forward Gyasi Zardes. Additionally, the two sides met
on November 29 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2020
Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, again played at Historic Crew Stadium.
After a scoreless regulation, Santos and Zardes scored in the first
half of added extra time to give Columbus a 2-0 win and advanced
the Club to the Eastern Conference Finals.
COACHES
Caleb Porter: 95-75-70 (Portland Timbers: ‘13 – ’17; Columbus Crew: ’19 – Present)
vs.
Gary Smith: 52-39-50 (Colorado Rapids ’08 – 11; Nashville SC ’20 – Present)
Records listed are MLS regular-season totals
2021 REGULAR-SEASON SNAPSHOT
2021 REGULAR-SEASON SNAPSHOT
COLUMBUS CREW NASHVILLE SC
2021 MLS Regular Season: 2021 MLS Regular Season:
Points: 20 Points: 22
Points Per Game: 1.54 Points Per Game: 1.69
Eastern Conference: Sixth Eastern Conference: Fourth
Home: 4-0-2 Home: 5-0-5
Away: 1-3-3 Away: 0-1-2
Goals For: 15 Goals For: 21
Goals Against: 12 Goals Against: 14
+/-: 3 +/-: +7
2021 Regular-Season Leaders
Goals: Zelarayan (5) Goals: Mukhtar (7)
Assists: Santos (3) Assists: Leal (5)
Shots: Zelarayan (30) Shots: Mukhtar (39)
Shots on Goal: Zelarayan (14) Shots on Goal: Leal (21)
Fouls Suffered: Zelarayan (26) Fouls Suffered: Leal (28)
Fouls Committed: Santos (23) Fouls Committed: Muyl (21)
Yellow Cards Issued: Three players tied (3) Yellow Cards Issued: Godoy, Muyl (4)
Saves Leader: Room (29) Saves Leader: Willis (27)
GAA Leader: Room (0.91) GAA Leader: Willis (1.08)
Wins: Room (4) Wins: Willis (5)
WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Wednesday’s home match against Nashville SC begins at 7:30
p.m. ET and is set to be regionally televised on Bally Sports
Ohio and via stream on the Bally Sports App. Neil Sika, Jordan
Angeli and Brett Hiltbrand are slated to have the call in English.
Pre-match coverage will begin at 7:00 p.m. ET on Bally Sports
Ohio. The contest is also available in English on 97.1 The Fan,
as well as via stream on 971TheFan.com, with Chris Doran calling the match. A Spanish audio stream is available on ColumbusCrew.com, with Juan Valladares on the call.
ZELARAYAN SCORES HIS FOURTH DIRECT-FREE KICK GOAL OF
THE SEASON
Lucas Zelarayan has now scored four direct free-kick goals
during the 2021 MLS regular-season, having previously connected versus D.C. United (May 8) and twice at New York City FC
(May 22). He is the first player in Major League Soccer to score
four direct free-kick goals in a season since David Beckham accomplished the feat for the LA Galaxy during the 2012 season.
For a list of MLS players who have previously scored three or
more direct free-kick goals in one season since 2003, please
see the table below.
MOST DIRECT FREE KICK GOALS, SINGLE SEASON*
PLAYER TEAM G YEAR
- Sebastian Giovinco TOR 6 2017
- Sebastian Giovinco TOR 5 2015
T-3. David Beckham LA 4 2012
T-3. Lucas Zelarayan CLB 4 2021
T-5. Eight players tied – 3 –
*Opta Stats did not keep track of this statistic prior to 2003
ZELARAYAN SCORES FIFTH REGULAR-SEASON GOAL
Midfielder Lucas Zelarayan scored his fifth goal of the 2021
regular season during Saturday’s match against New York City
FC. The direct free kick goal was Zelarayan’s fourth free kick
goal of the season and his third free kick scored against New
York City FC this season. Zelarayan is now tied for the Club lead
in goals scored against New York City FC, having scored four
times in three appearances (three game-winning goals).
NAGBE SCORES FIRST GOAL OF THE REGULAR SEASON
Midfielder Darlington Nagbe scored his first goal of the regular
season in first-half stoppage-time of Saturday’s match against
New York City FC. The goal was Nagbe’s first regular-season
goal since scoring versus Chicago Fire FC on August 19, 2020
at Historic Crew Stadium, which was later voted the MLSSoccer.com Goal of the Year. Nagbe’s goal was nominated for
MLSSoccer.com’s Goal of the Week, while the midfielder earned
a spot in MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week.
SANTOS ADDS THIRD ASSIST OF THE REGULAR SEASON
Midfielder Pedro Santos recorded his third assist of the regular
season on Darlington Nagbe’s first-half stoppage-time goal in
Saturday’s match. He now has 26 regular season assists with
the Crew since joining the Club during the 2017 season.
COLUMBUS CREW SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CAPS
Player National Team Caps Last Appearance
Liam Fraser Canada 7 7/18/21 vs. United States (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Luis Diaz Costa Rica 6 7/16/21 vs. Suriname (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Waylon Francis Costa Rica 7 3/22/19 vs. Guatemala (friendly)
Eloy Room Curacao 40 6/15/21 vs. Panama (FIFA World Cup qualifier)
Harrison Afful Ghana 77 9/08/18 vs. Kenya (AFCoN qua.)
Jonathan Mensah Ghana 60 6/29/19 vs. Cameroon (AFCoN)
Derrick Etienne Jr. Haiti 31 7/18/21 vs. Martinique (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Kevin Molino Trinidad & Tobago 53 7/18/21 vs. Guatemala (Concacaf Gold Cup)
Perry Kitchen United States 5 10/11/16 vs. New Zealand (friendly)
Darlington Nagbe United States 25 3/28/18 vs. Paraguay (friendly)
Gyasi Zardes United States 59 7/18/21 vs. Canada (Concacaf Gold Cup)
BERRY MAKES FIRST REGULAR-SEASON START FOR
COLUMBUS CREW
Forward Miguel Berry made his first regular-season start for
the Crew in Saturday’s match against New York City FC. Berry
has made three appearances (one start) for the Black & Gold
this season and has scored one goal. Across all competitions
this season, Berry has made five appearances (two starts).
Additionally, Berry made seven appearances for USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC, scoring three goals and
providing an assist.
FRANCIS RECORDS 100TH REGULAR-SEASON START FOR
COLUMBUS CREW
Defender Waylon Francis made his 100th regular-season start
for the Crew in Saturday’s match against NYCFC. In his first
stint with Columbus from 2014 to 2017, Francis made 83 appearances (75 starts). After making 11 appearances (5 starts)
for Seattle Sounders FC in 2018, Francis returned to the Black
& Gold before the 2019 season and has made 32 appearances
(25 starts).
COLUMBUS CREW LEADS LEAGUE IN GOALS SCORED
OUTSIDE OF THE 18-YARD BOX
Through 13 matches of the 2021 MLS regular-season, the
Black & Gold currently lead Major League Soccer in goals
scored outside of the 18-yard box, having scored six goals
from that area. Additionally, midfielder Lucas Zelarayan leads
the League with five goals scored from the range – singlehandedly scoring more goals from outside the box than any
club this season. For a list of team and player goals scored
outside of the 18-yard box, please see the table below.
GOALS SCORED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE 18-YARD BOX*
TEAM GOALS
- Columbus Crew 6
T-2. FC Cincinnati 4
T-2. Nashville SC 4
T-2. New York Red Bulls 4
T-2. San Jose Earthquakes 4
PLAYER GOALS SCORED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE 18-YARD
BOX*
PLAYER GOAL(OUTSIDE BOX)
Lucas Zelarayan (CLB) 5
Nani (ORL) 3
Javier López (SJ) 2
Cristian Cásseres Jr. (NYR) 2
*2021 MLS regular season (as of 7/19/2021)
COLUMBUS CREW PLAYERS ON INTERNATIONAL DUTY
Columbus Crew saw five players make international caps
during the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup: Liam Fraser (Canada),
Derrick Etienne Jr. (Haiti), Kevin Molino (Trinidad & Tobago),
Gyasi Zardes (United States) and Luis Diaz (Costa Rica). Fraser
has made two appearances (one start) for Canada. Etienne Jr.
made two appearances (two starts) for Haiti in the Gold Cup
qualifying stage, scoring a goal and providing two assists to
help Haiti advance to the Group Stage. In the Group Stage, Eti- enne Jr. made three appearances (all starts), adding two assists. Molino made two appearances (two starts) for Trinidad
and Tobago in the Gold Cup qualifying stage, scoring two goals
and providing an assist as Trinidad and Tobago advanced to
the Group Stage. In the Group Stage, Molino made three appearances (one start). Zardes has made three appearances
(two starts) for the United States, scoring a goal and providing an assist. With the assist against Haiti on July 11, Zardes
became the second fastest United States men’s national
team player to reach the double-digit goals and assists mark,
reaching the mark in his 57th cap. Diaz has made two appearances (one start) for Costa Rica and added one assist.
NAGBE AND HAIRSTON: PASS MASTERS
Through 13 matches in the 2021 MLS regular season, midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Marlon Hairston lead the
League in passing accuracy among players who have attempted 50 or more passes. Nagbe has made 12 starts while
completing 572 of his 594 attempted passes for a passing
accuracy percentage of 96.3%, while Hairston has made four
appearances and completed 156 of his 166 attempted passes
for a passing accuracy percentage of 93.98%. For a list of the
five MLS players with the highest passing accuracy this season, please see the table below.
PLAYERS WITH HIGHEST PASSING ACCURACY*
PLAYER ATT. COMP. %
- Darlington Nagbe (CLB) 594 572 96.3
- Marlon Hairston (CLB) 166 156 93.98
- Joel Waterman (MTL) 238 223 93.7
- Adam Saldana (LA) 223 208 93.27
- Anibal Godoy (NSC) 547 508 92.87
*2021 MLS regular season (50 or more passes only, as of 7/19/2021)
BLACK & GOLD QUOTES
ON THE CREW’S RECENT PERFORMANCES
“I’m just happy with the performances that we’re having. Like
you said, we haven’t lost in a couple of games, so I think those
things are important. A point is a point, and three points are
three points, which gets you up the table so I hope it’ll continue, and we don’t lose a game any time soon.”
- DARLINGTON NAGBE
ON GETTING THE FIRST WIN AT LOWER.COM FIELD
“It’s great to get those first three points in the new stadium,
hopefully it’s the first of many, we have 11 more after this
game. We want to get that feeling back in this stadium that we
had in Historic Crew Stadium where we have a fortress where
no one wants to come in and no one can get points off us – so
it’s great to start to build that feeling.” - CALEB PORTER
MILESTONES ON THE HORIZON
CALEB PORTER
• Has won 95 MLS regular-season matches as a head coach and is five
wins away from reaching 100 all-time.
HARRISON AFFUL
• Has made 145 regular-season starts for the Crew and needs five more
to reach 150.
DERRICK ETIENNE JR.
• Has made 94 MLS regular-season appearances and needs six more to
reach 100.
ERIK HURTADO
• Has made 142 MLS regular-season appearances and needs eight more
to reach 150.
KEVIN MOLINO
• Has made 93 MLS regular-season starts and needs seven more to reach
100.
DARLINGTON NAGBE
• Has made 297 MLS regular-season appearances and needs four more
to reach 300.
JOSH WILLIAMS
• Has made 149 regular-season appearances for the Crew and needs one
more to reach 150.
GYASI ZARDES
• Has made 92 regular-season appearances for the Crew and needs eight
more to reach 100.
• Has scored 48 regular-season goals for the Crew and needs two more
to reach 50
COURTESY COLUMBUS CREW & MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
