The following is a press release from the communications department of Columbus Crew SC.
COLUMBUS — In conjunction with Major League Soccer, Columbus Crew SC today announced that midfielder Ethan Finlay and defender Waylon Francis have each been added to the 22-man gameday roster for the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game as injury replacements. Finlay and Francis join forward Kei Kamara, previously named to the roster, to give the Black & Gold a trio of MLS All-Stars for the first time since 2008 and three active roster All-Stars for the first time since 2004, when the game followed an East vs. West format. This year’s Crew SC representation features Major League Soccer’s 2015 leaders in goals (Kamara, 15), assists (Finlay, 12) and assists by a defender (Francis, six).
Ethan Finlay, Waylon Francis Named to MLS All-Star Game Roster
The MLS All-Stars are set to take on Barclays Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow, Wednesday, July 29 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids (9:00 p.m. ET / Fox Sports 1, UniMas, TSN, RDS).
Black and Gold head coach and sporting director Gregg Berhalter had the following to say about the call-ups:
“We’re proud of them. Ethan’s a guy in particular we felt should have been there in the beginning. But for him, it’s great recognition and for Waylon, he sets the standard for left backs in this league, being very offensive and defensive capable as well,” he said.
Finlay and Francis become the 20th and 21st all-time members of the Black & Gold to be named MLS All-Stars as well as the third and fourth players to earn the honor under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter.
This is the first All-Star Game nomination of Finlay’s career, which began in 2012 after the Marshfield, Wisconsin native was selected in the First Round (10th overall) of that year’s MLS SuperDraft by the Black & Gold. This season, he is MLS’ leader in assists with 12, two ahead of Sporting Kansas City’s Benny Feilhaber, Philadelphia’s Cristian Maidana and Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco.
Finlay was asked about his thoughts about being able to have the chance to participate in Wednesday’s match against Spurs:
“It’s an incredible honor. It’s extremely humbling but, you know, it’s great. After a great start to the first part of our campaign, to be rewarded and as well as two other guys be rewarded I think it’s a true testament to what we’re doing in Columbus,” Finlay remarked.
Finlay’s seven goals and 12 helpers this season are a continuation of his breakout in the 2014 campaign that saw the midfielder share the club’s Budweiser Golden Boot award following an 11-goal, seven-assist performance. Since his first MLS goal on May 17, 2014 in Portland, Finlay has totaled 18 goals and 19 assists in 45 appearances. Among all League players, only 2014 Landon Donovan Most Valuable Player Award winner Robbie Keane has more combined goals and assists since that date.
Francis, also named to the AT&T MLS All-Star Game for the first time, joined Crew SC ahead of the 2014 season after being signed on November 26, 2013. This season, Francis’ six assists are second on the Black & Gold and tops in all of MLS among defenders. The Costa Rican is two helpers ahead of Vancouver’s Steven Beitashour, Sporting KC’s Jalil Anibaba and D.C. United’s Taylor Kemp.
Francis describes the news of being named to the roster as the culmination of hard work and something he’s strived for:
“For me it is something I take great pleasure in. It is something I have always dreamed about and finally playing hard and getting called up, it is something that I am very proud of and something that I always worked for, so I am very happy,” said Francis through an interpreter.
The defender notched six assists in his debut season for the Black & Gold in 2014, which also included a trip to Brazil as a member of Costa Rica’s squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. All-time, he has earned two caps for the Ticos, most recently with a start in a friendly against Paraguay on March 26, 2015.
On-field festivities in Colorado for the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game week begin this evening, Tuesday, July 28 for the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game (9:00 p.m. ET / streamed live on MLSsoccer.com) at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Crew SC Homegrown Players Matt Lampson and Ben Swanson are both set to participate in the second-annual version of the game, which pits the MLS Homegrown Team against the Club America Under-20 side from Mexico. Crew SC is one of 10 clubs represented in the Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game for the second-straight season after Lampson and Wil Trapp were named to last year’s inaugural version of the contest at Providence Park in Portland. The Black & Gold also join the Colorado Rapids as the only two MLS clubs to have multiple representatives both this season and last season.
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