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Kenny Atkinson, Columbus Crew v Inter MiamiKen Blaze-Imagn Images
Siddhant Lazar

WATCH: Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Kenny Atkinson participates in Columbus Crew’s pre-match festivities

The NBA coach of Year finalist was The Crew’s designated fan to ignite the match before their high-profile game against Inter Miami

  • Atkinson was "designated fan to ignite the match"
  • A record 60,614 fans attended the match
  • Crew lost 1-0 to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami
  • Columbus Crew mascot S.C. and Cleveland Browns mascot BrownieAdam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

    WHAT HAPPENED

    The Columbus Crew knew was at stake in Saturday's battle of unbeaten MLS sides against Inter Miami. They moved the game to Cleveland and played at Huntington Bank Field, which is the home stadium of Cleveland Browns - also owned by Jimmy and Dee Haslam.

    The home side also designated Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson as the honorary fan to kick off the proceedings. The Crew also invited Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to be the game’s “Dawg Pound Captain”.

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  • THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Inter Miami (5-3-0) remained unbeaten with a 1-0 win over the Crew (5-3-1) in what proved to be a competitive match between MLS's last two undefeated teams. The announced attendance of 60,614 set a new home record for the Columbus Crew and marked the largest crowd ever for a non-football event at Huntington Bank Field as Herons’ midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi scored the game’s only goal.

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  • Daniel Gazdag, Columbus CrewAdam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

    WHAT’S NEXT?

    Following this high-profile match in Cleveland, Columbus Crew will return to their regular home at Lower.com Field for upcoming MLS fixtures, looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.

    They remain in third place on the Eastern Conference table with 18 points and host back-to-back home games against San Jose Earthquakes and Charlotte FC on April 26 and May 3 respectively.

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