Preview: Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union - prediction, team news, lineups

Columbus Crew will be looking to pick up a fourth home win on the bounce when they welcome Philadelphia Union to Lower.com Field on Saturday evening.

The Union head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last six games against the home side and will be looking to extend this dominant run.

Match preview

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Columbus Crew continue to struggle for results on the road as they were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Dallas when the sides squared off at the Toyota Stadium last Saturday.

In a cagey affair at the Toyota Stadium, Dallas were made to rue their wasteful display in front of goal as Jader Obrian cancelled out Nkosi Tafari's 24th-minute own goal to force a share of the spoils.

With that result, the Crew have now failed to win six of their last seven away matches — losing three and picking up three draws — with a 4-2 victory at Montreal on September 3 being the exception.

However, Columbus Crew now return home where they are unbeaten in each of their last 10 league matches, placing up an impressive eight wins and two draws since April's 2-1 loss against Inter Miami.

With just two matches left to play before the end of the regular season, Wilfried Nancy's men have picked up 49 points from 30 matches to sit fourth in the Eastern Conference table, just one point and one place behind Sunday's visitors.

Philadelphia Union, on the other hand, were involved in another share of the spoils as they were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Dallas at Subaru Park on Thursday morning.

Teenage midfielder Quinn Sullivan grabbed his second goal in two games to hand the hosts a win 25th-minute lead but Alan Velasco responded nine minutes later and he found the target to force a share of the spoils.

Jim Curtin's men have now played out four consecutive stalemates since coming from behind to secure a 4-1 victory over New York Red Bulls on September 4 courtesy of goals from Jakob Glesnes, Damion Lowe and Daniel Gazdag.

Next up for Philadelphia Union is an opposing side who have failed to win any of their last six meetings, losing four and picking up two draws since a 2-1 victory in November 2020.

Team News

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Columbus Crew will be without 23-year-old forward William Sands, who has been sidelined since picking up a knee injury in April's game against Charlotte FC.

With 13 goals and seven assists to his name, Cucho Hernandez is currently fourth in the MLS goal involvements chart and the 24-year-old will be one to keep an eye out for.

As for Philadelphia Union, Curtin will be unable to call upon German midfielder Leon Flach, who is set to sit out his sixth consecutive game through an abdominal problem.

Colombian midfielder Jose Martinez and experienced defender Jakob Glesnes have missed each of the Union's last two matches and will also sit out Sunday's game.

Julian Carranza, who has 12 goals and four assists in 27 appearances this season, missed the game against Dallas on Thursday and is also a doubt for the Union.

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:

Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Amundsen; Gressel, Nagbe, Morris, Yeboah; Matan, Rossi, Hernandez

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:

Blake; Mbaizo, Glesnes, Lowe, Wagner; McGlynn, Bedoya, Bueno; Gazdag, Sullivan; Uhre

We say: Columbus Crew 2-1 Philadelphia Union

Columbus Crew's home ground has been a fortress this year and they will be backing themselves to return to winning ways this weekend. Philadelphia Union appear to have run out of steam at the business end of the season and we fancy the hosts to end their winless run against Curtin's side.

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