Columbus Crew SC have been one of the teams to watch this season due to their impressive offensive totals and possession oriented soccer being implemented by coach Gregg Berhalter. They lead the Eastern Conference in scoring with 45 goals, which is only trumped by Western Conference leading LA Galaxy (49). The club currently resides in third place in the Eastern Conference standings and their quest to make a second straight MLS Cup Playoffs appearance is being pushed by 25-year-old midfielder Ethan Finlay.
Finlay, a Minnesota native, has been one of the standout players of the 2015 MLS campaign. In his fourth year with Columbus, the speedy winger has racked up eight goals, good for second on the team behind MLS leading scorer Kei Kamara (18), and has notched 13 assists, which is tied for second in MLS behind Philadelphia Union midfielder Cristian Maidana (14). Finlay has nearly doubled his career best assist total and is three goals shy of his all-time regular season goal record of 11, notched in 2014. As a result of his impressive 2015 season, Finlay earned his first MLS All-Star selection and featured in the MLS All-Stars’ 2-1 victory over English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Finlay, a Minnesota native, has been one of the standout players of the 2015 MLS campaign. In his fourth year with Columbus, the speedy winger has racked up eight goals, good for second on the team behind MLS leading scorer Kei Kamara (18), and has notched 13 assists, which is tied for second in MLS behind Philadelphia Union midfielder Cristian Maidana (14). Finlay has nearly doubled his career best assist total and is three goals shy of his all-time regular season goal record of 11, notched in 2014. As a result of his impressive 2015 season, Finlay earned his first MLS All-Star selection and featured in the MLS All-Stars’ 2-1 victory over English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
More than ever, Finlay’s breakout performance should catch the eye of U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. The first-round 2012 SuperDraft pick is also eligible to play for the Canadian National Team, adding suspense to which country will come calling first. “If I had a choice, I was born in the United States, so to play for the United States is my No. 1 priority,” he said to MLSsoccer.com last year. “But I think when you have an opportunity to play at an international level, if one avenue isn’t open and another one came knocking, it’s something that I would possibly look into.”
Finlay has been an integral part of the Crew SC’s exciting year thus far, and the Creighton University product will be key as the club aims for its first Eastern Conference Championship title since 2008. The club will look to get that much closer to its goal on Sunday, Sept. 6, when it hosts Western Conference foe FC Dallas at 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes).
Finlay has been an integral part of the Crew SC’s exciting year thus far, and the Creighton University product will be key as the club aims for its first Eastern Conference Championship title since 2008. The club will look to get that much closer to its goal on Sunday, Sept. 6, when it hosts Western Conference foe FC Dallas at 7 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes).
By: Editor
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