DENVER – Left out of the initial Fan XI and Commissioner’s Picks, Columbus Crew SC now finds themselves well represented in the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.
Goals leader Kei Kamara was a seemingly no-brainer selection for All-Star head coach Pablo Mastroeni, and the forward’s teammates Ethan Finlay and Waylon Francis were added to the mix as part of five new additions on Tuesday.
As the main man feeding Kamara, leading to a league-leading 12 assists, Finlay’s absence from the original roster was seen as a snub by some. But he’s harboring no hard feelings.
“Either way, if I would’ve made it to the All-Star game or not, I was loving the recognition I was getting from fans and analysts,” Finlay told MLSsoccer.com. “I’m going to make the best of the opportunity. Being a young guy in this league and hanging out with these superstars is a tremendous honor for myself, and I’m extremely excited and humbled by this whole opportunity.”
Kamara and Finlay have been one the league’s best one-two punch this season – but things could always be better, Finlay revealed.
“[Kamara] hasn’t asked me to move in yet, so we haven’t got to that part in our relationship,” Finlay said jokingly. “It’s been great. We’re working on all cylinders. My ability on the ball is because of his runs. The pass dictates the run, and his movement in and around the box has been incredible this year.”
With the Crew SC trio together for Wednesday’s exhibition against Tottenham Hotspur, Finlay hopes he and his teammates can keep the chemistry going at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (9 pm ET; FOX Sports 1, UniMás in the US; TSN, RDS in Canada).
“I hope we can continue it tomorrow,” he said. “With Waylon and I here, it’ll be interesting to see if we all get on the field together.”
