Supporters’ XI: Real Esteli
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Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch via Imagn Content Services, LLC
The start of a new season brings hope and excitement. For a team that is coming off a year where it won the MLS Cup, there also have expectations. On Thursday, the Columbus Crew starts trying to meet these expectations in the team’s first CONCACAF Champions League game since the 2010-11 season against Real Esteli.
In 2021, Massive Report will continue to ask you, the supporters, to tell us who you want to start for the Black & Gold. Right off the bat, with the first competitive match of the year, there are questions surrounding injuries and how new pieces fit.
AP Photo/Jay LaPrete
Columbus Crew SC today announced that the core of its 2020 MLS Cup-winning roster is set to return for the 2021 season.
Crew SC exercised the contract options on eight players from its 2020 roster. With 14 other players already under contract for the 2021 season, the announcement gives the Black & Gold a roster that currently features 22 players.
Crew SC exercised the options of goalkeeper Eloy Room; defenders Harrison Afful, Grant Lillard, Milton Valenzuela and Josh Williams; midfielders Derrick Etienne Jr. and Pedro Santos; as well as forward Miguel Berry. Goalkeepers Evan Bush, Jon Kempin and Matt Lampson; defenders Chris Cadden, Aboubacar Keita, Jonathan Mensah and Vito Wormgoor; midfielders Artur, Sebastian Berhalter, Luis Diaz, Aidan Morris, Darlington Nagbe and Lucas Zelarayan; as well as forward Gyasi Zardes are already under contract.
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MLS Cup: Highlights, stats and quotes
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MATCH SUMMARY
Saturday, December 12, 2020
Fourth Official: Alex Chilowicz
SCORING SUMMARY
CLB – Derrick Etienne (Lucas Zelarayán) 31’
CLB – Lucas Zelarayán (Luis Diaz) 82’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Brad Smith (caution) 49’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan (Kelvin Leerdam 60’), Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Shane O’Neill (Jimmy Medranda 77’), Nouhou (Brad Smith HT); João Paulo (Will Bruin 60’), Cristian Roldan, Joevin Jones (Gustav Svensson HT), Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris; Raúl Ruidíaz
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Román Torres, Miguel Ibarra, Jordy Delem
Total shots: 13 (Ruidíaz, 4)
Shots on goal: 2 (C. Roldan/Ruidíaz, 1)
Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK
It is fitting that the 2020 version of MLS Cup is a mix of the familiar and completely bizarre. The familiarity comes from the teams the Seattle Sounders, a perennial contender, and an MLS original in the form of the Columbus Crew and the setting. Mapfre Stadium, opened as Crew Stadium in 1999 and home of some remarkable moments in American soccer, will be replaced by a downtown stadium next year.
The bizarre? The biggest game in American men’s soccer will be attended by no more than 1,500 people. MLS Cup has never been played this late in the year, or after this short of a regular season. Covid-19 has deprived the Crew of two major starters in Darlington Nagbe and Pedro Santos, and it’s the reason everything about this feels so odd.