# 2015 Columbus Crew SC season

The 2015 Columbus Crew SC season was the club's twentieth season of existence, and their twentieth consecutive season in Major League Soccer, the top flight of American soccer.

## Review

In coach Berhalter's second season, he led the club to an MLS Cup appearance that resulted in a loss to the Portland Timbers. This season also saw returning striker Kei Kamara contend for the league's golden boot.

## Roster

Major League Soccer teams are limited to eight players without US citizenship, a permanent resident (green card holder), or other special status (e.g., refugee or asylum status). These international roster slots can be traded.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of January 30, 2015.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
| 1 | GK | Steve Clark | United States |
| 2 | DF | Tyson Wahl | United States |
| 3 | DF | Chris Klute | United States |
| 4 | DF | Michael Parkhurst (Captain) | United States |
| 5 | DF | Emanuel Pogatetz | Austria |
| 6 | MF | Tony Tchani | Cameroon |
| 7 | MF | Kristinn Steindórsson | Iceland |
| 8 | MF | Mohammed Saeid | Sweden |
| 9 | FW | Justin Meram | Iraq |
| 10 | FW | Federico Higuaín (DP) | Argentina |
| 11 | MF | Cedrick Mabwati | DR Congo |
| 12 | MF | Kevan George | Trinidad and Tobago |
| 13 | MF | Ethan Finlay | United States |
| 14 | DF | Waylon Francis | Costa Rica |
| 16 | DF | Hector Jiménez | United States |
| 17 | FW | Ben Speas (HGP) | United States |
| 18 | FW | Aaron Schoenfeld | United States |
| 19 | MF | Romain Gall | United States |
| 20 | MF | Wil Trapp (HGP) | United States |
| 21 | DF | Chad Barson (HGP) | United States |
| 22 | DF | Gastón Sauro | Argentina |
| 23 | FW | Kei Kamara | Sierra Leone |
| 24 | DF | Sergio Campbell | Jamaica |
| 25 | DF | Harrison Afful | Ghana |
| 26 | MF | Ben Swanson (HGP) | United States |
| 28 | GK | Matt Lampson (HGP) | United States |
| 30 | FW | Jack McInerney | United States |
| 41 | GK | Brad Stuver | United States |

## Competitive
### MLS
#### Standings
##### Eastern Conference

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 62 | 43 | +19 | 60 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 2 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 58 | 53 | +5 | 53 | MLS Cup Conference Semifinals |
| 3 | Montreal Impact | 34 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 51 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 4 | D.C. United | 34 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 43 | 45 | −2 | 51 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |
| 5 | New England Revolution | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 48 | 47 | +1 | 50 | MLS Cup Knockout Round |

##### Overall table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 2 | FC Dallas | 34 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 52 | 39 | +13 | 60 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 3 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 34 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 45 | 36 | +9 | 53 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 4 | Columbus Crew | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 58 | 53 | +5 | 53 | |
| 5 | Portland Timbers (C) | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 53 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 6 | Seattle Sounders FC | 34 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 51 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | Pts | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
| 34 | 53 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 58 | 53 | +5 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 38 | 25 | +13 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 20 | 28 | −8 |
Last updated: 18 Nov 2015 Source: Columbus Crew 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 | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H |
| Result | L | W | L | D | D | W | W | L | W | L | D | D | L | L | D | W | D | W | L | W | W | D | L | W | D | W | W | L | W | W | L | L | W | W |

#### Match results
### U.S. Open Cup
## Statistics
### Appearances

    Numbers outside parentheses denote appearances as starter.
    Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
    Players with no appearances are not included in the list.
    As of match played June 17, 2015
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | MLS | U.S. Open Cup | Total |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Apps | Apps | Apps |
| 1 | GK | | Steve Clark | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 4 | DF | | Michael Parkhurst | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 5 | DF | | Emanuel Pogatetz | 13 (1) | 1 | 14 (1) |
| 6 | MF | | Tony Tchani | 32 | 1 | 14 |
| 8 | MF | | Mohammed Saeid | 12 (1) | 0 (1) | 12 (2) |
| 9 | FW | | Justin Meram | 12 (1) | 0 (1) | 12 (2) |
| 10 | FW | | Federico Higuaín | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 13 | FW | | Ethan Finlay | 15 | 1 | 16 |
| 14 | FW | | Waylon Francis | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 20 | FW | | Wil Trapp | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | FW | | Kei Kamara | 14 (1) | 0 | 14 (1) |
| 27 | FW | | Hernán Grana | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | DF | | Tyson Wahl | 3 (2) | 1 | 4 (2) |
| 3 | DF | | Chris Klute | 4 (3) | 0 | 4 (3) |
| 7 | DF | | Kristinn Steindórsson | 3 (10) | 1 | 4 (10) |
| 12 | DF | | Kevan George | 2 (2) | 1 | 3 (2) |
| 16 | DF | | Hector Jiménez | 6 (6) | 1 | 7 (6) |
| 17 | MF | | Ben Speas | 1 (6) | 1 | 2 (6) |
| 18 | FW | | Aaron Schoenfeld | 1 (9) | 0 (1) | 1 (10) |
| 21 | DF | | Chad Barson | 1 (2) | 1 | 2 (2) |
| 29 | FW | | Adam Bedell | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 41 | GK | | Brad Stuver | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Goals and assists

    As of match played December 6, 2015
| No. | Pos. | Name | MLS | MLS | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Total | Total |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Goals | Assists | Goals | Assists | Goals | Assists |
| 1 | GK | Steve Clark | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | DF | Tyson Wahl | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | DF | Emanuel Pogatetz | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | Tony Tchani | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 9 | FW | Justin Meram | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| 10 | MF | Federico Higuaín | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 9 |
| 11 | MF | Cedrick Mabwati | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | Kevan George | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | MF | Ethan Finlay | 12 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| 14 | DF | Waylon Francis | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 16 | MF | Hector Jiménez | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 17 | MF | Ben Speas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | MF | Wil Trapp | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 21 | DF | Chad Barson | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | FW | Kei Kamara | 22 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 8 |
| 25 | D | Harrison Afful | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 29 | FW | Adam Bedell | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | Jack McInerney | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 18 | FW | Aaron Schoenfeld | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 56 | 63 | 3 | 3 | 59 | 66 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of match played June 17, 2015
| No. | Pos. | Name | MLS | MLS | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Total | Total |
| 2 | DF | Tyson Wahl | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Chris Klute | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | Michael Parkhurst | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | Emanuel Pogatetz | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Tony Tchani | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Mohammed Saeid | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | Justin Meram | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Federico Higuaín | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | Kevan George | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Waylon Francis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Hector Jiménez | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | Aaron Schoenfeld | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | Kei Kamara | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | Hernán Grana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 3 |

#### Additional suspensions
## Transfers
### In

| Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee/notes | Date |
| FW | Kei Kamara | Free Agent | Acquired via MLS allocation ranking | Oct 7, 2014 |
| MF | Ben Swanson | | Homegrown signing | Oct 16, 2014 |
| MF | Mohammed Saeid | Free Agent | | Oct 29, 2014 |
| MF | Kristinn Steindorsson | Free Agent | | Dec 11, 2014 |
| DF | Chris Klute | Colorado Rapids | Trade from Colorado Rapids | Dec 16, 2014 |
| DF | Hernan Grana | Free Agent | | Jan 23, 2015 |
| MF | Cedrick Mabwati | Real Betis | Transfer from Real Betis | Jan 30, 2015 |
| DF | Sergio Campbell | Connecticut Huskies | Selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft with the 19th pick | Mar 2, 2015 |
| DF | Kalen Ryden | Midwestern State Mustangs Midland/Odessa Sockers | Selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft with the 35th pick | Mar 2, 2015 |
| FW | Sagi Lev-Ari | Cal State Northridge Matadors | Selected in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft with the 35th pick | Mar 2, 2015 |
| DF | Harrison Afful | ES Tunis | Sign | Jul 30, 2015 |
| FW | Jack McInerney | Montreal Impact | Acquired in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. | Aug 4, 2015 |
| DF | Gastón Sauro | FC Basel | Sign | Aug 6, 2015 |

### Out

| Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee/notes | Date | Source |
| MF | Matt Walker | | Option declined | Nov. 18, 2014 | |
| MF | Agustín Viana | Danubio | Option declined | Nov. 18, 2014 | |
| MF | Daniel Paladini | | Option declined | Nov. 18, 2014 | |
| MF | Fifi Baiden | | Option declined | Nov. 18, 2014 | |
| DF | Matt Wiet | | Option declined | Nov. 18, 2014 | |
| DF | Ross Friedman | | Option declined | Nov. 18, 2014 | |
| DF | Josh Williams | New York City FC | Crew SC acquires allocation money from NYCFC in exchange for the defender. | Dec. 8, 2014 | |
| MF | Bernardo Añor | Sporting Kansas City | Crew SC acquires allocation money from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for the midfielder. | Dec. 8, 2014 | |
| FW | Jairo Arrieta | Orlando City SC | Option declined Nov 18, 2014. Selected by Orlando City SC in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. | Dec 10, 2014 | [14] [17] |
| DF | Eric Gehrig | Orlando City SC | Selected by Orlando City SC in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. | Dec. 10, 2014 | |
| DF | Ben Sweat | | Waived | Feb. 9, 2015 | |
| FW | Sagi Lev-Ari | | Waived | Mar. 16, 2015 | |
| DF | Hernán Grana | | Grana and Crew SC mutually agreed to part ways. | May 12, 2015 | |
| DF | Kalen Ryden | | Waived | Aug. 6, 2015 | |
| FW | Adam Bedell | Orlando City SC | Crew SC acquires a second-round selection in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. | Aug. 6, 2015 | |

## Recognition
### MLS Player of the Week

| Week | Player | Opponent(s) | Link |
| Week 8 | Ethan Finlay | Philadelphia Union | Report Archived 2015-05-23 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 12 | Kei Kamara | Chicago Fire | Report Archived 2015-05-27 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 23 | Kei Kamara | Colorado Rapids | Report Archived 2015-08-13 at the Wayback Machine |

### MLS Save of the Week

| Week | Player | Opponent | Link |
| Week 11 | Steve Clark | San Jose Earthquakes | Report Archived 2015-05-23 at the Wayback Machine |

### MLS Team of the Week

| Week | Player | Opponent(s) | Link |
| Week 2 | Hernán Grana | Toronto FC | Report Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 2 | Justin Meram | Toronto FC | Report Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 7 | Federico Higuaín | Orlando City SC | Report Archived 2015-06-25 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 7 | Kei Kamara | Orlando City SC | Report Archived 2015-06-25 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 8 | Ethan Finlay | Philadelphia Union | Report Archived 2015-04-29 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 8 | Waylon Francis | Philadelphia Union | Report Archived 2015-04-29 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 8 | Kei Kamara | Philadelphia Union | Report Archived 2015-04-29 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 10 | Federico Higuaín | Seattle Sounders FC | Report Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 10 | Kei Kamara | Seattle Sounders FC | Report Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 10 | Emanuel Pogatetz | Seattle Sounders FC | Report Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 12 | Kei Kamara | Chicago Fire | Report Archived 2015-06-28 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 15 | Tony Tchani | LA Galaxy | Report Archived 2015-06-30 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 17 | Ethan Finlay | New England Revolution & Real Salt Lake | Report Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 17 | Kei Kamara | New England Revolution & Real Salt Lake | Report Archived 2015-07-01 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 18 | Ethan Finlay | New York Red Bulls | Report Archived 2015-07-08 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 18 | Kei Kamara | New York Red Bulls | Report Archived 2015-07-08 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 20 | Ethan Finlay | Chicago Fire | Report Archived 2015-08-08 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 20 | Waylon Francis | Chicago Fire | Report Archived 2015-08-08 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 20 | Kei Kamara | Chicago Fire | Report Archived 2015-08-08 at the Wayback Machine |
| Week 23 | Kei Kamara | Colorado Rapids | Report Archived 2015-08-12 at the Wayback Machine |

## Kits

| Home | Away |
| Type | Shirt | Shorts | Socks | First appearance / Info |
| Home | Yellow | Yellow | Yellow | Week 1 against Houston Dynamo |
| Away | Black | Black | Black | Week 2 against Toronto FC |