The first of only two matches this weekend on the Major League Soccer (MLS) schedule will see the Columbus Crew hosting the New England Revolution on Saturday at Lower.com Field.
A 2-1 defeat at home to DC United last week officially eliminated the Revs from playoff contention, while the Crew are coming off a narrow 3-2 triumph over the Philadelphia Union.
Match preview
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Coming off a sparkling 2023 campaign in which the Crew set a new single-season club record for points (57), while capturing the MLS Cup, Wilfried Nancy's second season in charge has arguably been better.
Their victory last weekend enabled them to set a new club record for points in a season (60) while claiming the Leagues Cup this summer and being among the contenders to capture the MLS Cup once again.
The Crew have won two of their previous three home matches in this competition, though their nine victories at Lower.com Field domestically this year are three fewer than they had in 2023.
For a side with such an attacking approach, who like to push numbers forward, this team have been relatively solid defensively, conceding the second-fewest goals in the Eastern Conference (38).
Should they claim maximum points on Saturday, they would officially lock up second place in the Eastern Conference, as they are currently four points above arch-rivals FC Cincinnati in the table, while both sides have two matches remaining.
They have won their last two MLS meetings with New England, including a massive 5-1 triumph in Greater Boston earlier this season.
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The Revolution will not be in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons after suffering a second successive defeat last week.
This team have failed to find much consistency all year, winning just two of their first 13 regular-season fixtures while claiming one victory in their previous eight league contests.
Caleb Porter will return to Columbus this weekend for the first time since the man who guided the Crew to the 2020 MLS Cup title was sacked at the end of the 2022 season.
With only two matches remaining for them this season, New England can finish with 37 points at most, which would be their fewest since 2012 (35).
The Revs have been unable to fix their defensive deficiencies throughout the campaign, conceding the joint second-most goals in the Eastern Conference (64).
New England have never won a match at Lower.com Field and have not beaten the Crew in Columbus since claiming a 1-0 triumph in 2013 at Historic Crew Stadium (1-0).
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Team News
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In their victory versus Philly, the Crew were missing Sean Zawadzki because of a rib injury, Evan Bush is out with a wrist issue, while Rudy Camacho is eligible to return from a red card suspension.
Their top two goalkeepers will be away due to the international break, with Patrick Schulte named to the United States squad and Nicholas Hagen called up to the Guatemalan team, leaving Abraham Romero as the starter, while Taha Habroune (USA U-20) and Mohamed Farsi (Algeria) will also be away on international duty.
Cucho Hernandez has scored in five successive league fixtures, notching a brace last weekend, with Farsi netting the other goal.
On matchday 32, the Revs were without Will Sands due to a sore foot, and Tomas Chancalay is out for the remainder of the year with a knee injury.
Four New England players will be away because of the international window, with Xavier Arreaga joining Ecuador, Peyton Miller was added to the USA Under-20 team, Alhassan Yusuf was selected to the Nigerian squad and Esmir Bajraktarevic will be with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dave Romney collected his 75th appearance for the Revs across all competitions last Saturday, while their only goal was an own-goal which came courtesy of DC's Matti Peltola.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Romero; Cheberko, Camacho, Amundsen; Russell-Rowe, Matan, Nagbe, Jones; Rossi, Ramirez; Hernandez
New England Revolution possible starting lineup:
Ivacic; Bye, Parker, Romney, Mensah; Kaye, Polster; Borrero, C. Gil, Boateng; Vrioni
We say: Columbus Crew 3-2 New England Revolution
The Crew are firing on all cylinders at the moment and look just as sharp in the attacking third as we have seen all year, and we expect a spirited affair with the Columbus depth ultimately giving them three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
