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MLS Season Preview: Columbus Crew

Victor Decolongon / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With the MLS season set to begin on Friday, theScore runs down everything you need to know about each team heading into the league's 20th campaign. Here, we take a look at the Columbus Crew.

A roaring end to the 2013-14 regular season by the Crew went largely under the radar thanks to the equally, if slightly more impressive, conclusion to the year by their conference rivals in New England.

That Columbus got blasted by the Revolution in the playoffs, losing 7-3 on aggregate, didn't help. But that shouldn't take away from the fact that Gregg Berhalter, given ultimate control of the squad prior to last season when he was named sporting director and head coach, has constructed a deep, balanced group of players among the very best in the league.

Defensively sturdy - Columbus conceded the third-lowest goal tally in the Eastern Conference last season (42) - an boasting impressive attacking talent, Berhalter added significant depth in the offseason and attempted to address the team's one major flaw from a year ago.

Their new stadium name may be awful, but the Columbus Crew most certainly are not.

2014 season: 3rd in Eastern Conference

Record GF GA
14-10-10 (52 points) 52 42

Playoffs: Lost in Eastern Conference semifinal (New England)

Head coach: Gregg Berhalter

Stadium: MAPFRE Stadium 

Season Opener: Saturday, March 7: Houston Dynamo vs. Columbus Crew (BBVA Compass Stadium) - 8:30 PM EST

Key Arrivals

Kei Kamara, Mohammed Saied (free transfer), Kristinn Steindorsson (free transfer), Chris Klute (Colorado), Hernan Grana (free transfer), Cedrick Mabwati (Real Betis)

Note: Mabwati will not arrive until July, following the end of a loan spell with Osasuna.

Key Departures

Josh Williams (New York City FC), Bernardo Anor (Sporting Kansas City), Eric Gehrig (Orlando City), Jairo Arrieta (Orlando City)

Player to Watch: Kei Kamara

Federico Higuain is the engine that powers this big yellow machine, but if Kei Kamara can come in and provide a legitimate scoring threat, the Crew will be a frightening prospect this season.

Returning to North America after a disappointing spell with Middlesbrough, where he scored just four goals in 25 appearances, Kamara will have the support of a wonderful attacking midfield trio (Higuain, Justin Meram and Ethan Finlay) that remains intact from a year ago.

The three men combined for 32 goals and 17 assists last season, and that was with the since-departed Jairo Arrieta leading the line - the Costa Rican found the net only five times in 2013-14, a particularly disappointing total considering the talent supporting him from midfield.

Keep an eye on: Cedrick Mabwati

Projected Starting XI

(4-2-3-1) Steve Clark; Waylon Francis, Emanuel Pogatez, Michael Parkhurst, Hernan Grana; Tony Tchani, Wil Trapp; Justin Meram, Federico Higuain, Ethan Finley; Kei Kamara

Season in a Sentence

Gregg Berhalter has arguably the most balanced squad in the league at his disposal, but in order to fulfill many pre-season predictions and challenge for both the Supporters' Shield and MLS Cup, Kei Kamara will need to find the net on a consistent basis.

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