Columbus Crew To Host Stoke City FC In International Friendly

The Columbus Crew will be hosting one of the oldest soccer clubs in the world this summer. The Crew announced on Thursday that they would be hosting an international friendly with English side Stoke City FC. The friendly will be played on July 24 at Crew Stadium.

Stoke are coming off a mid-table year, a usual story for the Potters in recent years. With one week of games remaining in this year's season, Stoke are 14th in the table with 44 points. They made the 2011 FA Cup final in their most recent brush with success.

The friendly should provide some excitement in a year so far for Columbus that has been fairly mediocre on the pitch. Since 2005 the Crew haven't won any international friendlies, when they beat Fulham. Last July the Crew hosted Newcastle United and suffered a 3-0 defeat.

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