2012 Columbus Crew season
| 2012 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Clark Hunt | ||
| Head Coach | Robert Warzycha | ||
| Major League Soccer | Conference: 6th Overall: 10th |
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| MLS Cup | DNQ | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Third round | ||
| Trillium Cup | Winners (5 - 2) | ||
| Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup | Winners (2 - 1) | ||
| Carolina Challenge Cup | Third Place | ||
| Highest home attendance | 19,674 vs. Real Salt Lake (30 June 2012, Major League Soccer) |
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| Lowest home attendance | 10,049 vs. Toronto FC (22 August 2012, Major League Soccer) |
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| Average home league attendance | 14,397 | ||
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The 2012 Columbus Crew season is the club's nineteenth year of existence, as well as their seventeenth season in Major League Soccer, and their seventeenth consecutive season in the top-flight of American soccer.
Columbus opened its 2012 campaign against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on March 10, 2012.
The Crew missed the playoffs in 2012 for the first time since 2007, marking a further step backwards from the height of 2008. The roster moves which took place leading into the season were ultimately unsuccessful, with both high-profile signings - Milovan Mirosevic and Olman Vargas - playing only a single season for the club.
The lackluster performance of Vargas and Mirosevic led the team to a series of midseason signings, which nearly salvaged the season. Costa Rican forward Jairo Arrieta joined the team in June, while Argentine midfielder Federico Higuain signed a Designated Player contract a month later. The tandem revitalized the Crew's offense, leading to a 4-game winning streak and thoughts of post-season glory. After this initial honeymoon, however, the team's performance declined; the team just missed out on a playoff berth.
After the season, coach Robert Warzycha began yet another rebuilding effort, jettisoning several veteran players including William Hesmer, Sebastian Miranda and Emilio Renteria.
The year's most significant event, however, had nothing to do with on-field performance. Rookie midfielder Kirk Urso collapsed and died on August 5th from a genetic heart defect (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy), providing an emotional rallying cry for the remainder of the season and beyond.
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of March 23, 2012.
Source: Columbus Crew Official Website
Updated to matches played on 18:04 EDT October 28, 2012. Source: MLSSoccer.com
Notation Key:
Updated to matches played on October 28, 2012. Source: MLSSoccer.com
Notation Key:
1The highest ranked U.S.-based MLS club qualifies to the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League (placed in Pot A). The other U.S. representatives in the 2013–14 CONCACAF Champions League are:
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