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DC United
Major League Soccer | Gameweek 43
Oct 31, 2021 at 12.30am UK
RFK Stadium
Columbus Crew

DC United
1 - 3
Columbus Crew

Arriola (3')
Arriola (32'), Felipe (79')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Zelarayan (45' pen., 76'), Santos (66')
Valenzuela (42')

Preview: DC United vs. Columbus Crew - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between DC United and Columbus Crew, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

The Eastern Conference is entering the business stage of the season when sides are closing in on qualification to the playoffs, and both DC United and Columbus Crew are still in the fight to finish in the top seven.

DC United currently occupy the final playoff position, but the two teams below them, New York Red Bulls and Montreal have a game in hand on Hernan Losada's side, while Columbus sit in 10th and three points behind Sunday's hosts.


Match preview

DC United head coach Hernan Losada smiles as he walks off the field after the against FC Cincinnati in the first half at TQL Stadium on July 31, 2021© Reuters

DC United got back on track last time out after going four matches without a win throughout October so far, and victory last time out was a crucial step towards qualifying for the playoffs.

On Thursday, Losada's side welcomed New York Red Bulls to Audi Field and any result other than a win for the home side would have seen the Red Bulls leapfrog DC United into seventh spot.

Kevin Paredes ensured that there was nothing to worry about for the Black and Red as his 9th-minute strike was enough to seal a 1-0 victory for DC United.

The home team allowed New York Red Bulls many chances on goal during that game, and the amount of chances DC United are giving up at the moment is a concern for Losada, especially after losing 6-0 to New York City FC prior to Thursday's outing.

DC United may have conceded many chances on goal, but Bill Hamid earned his eighth clean sheet of the season, and his side have been better defensively on their home patch than they have been on their travels this year.

Columbus Crew head coach Caleb Porter directs his team in the first half against Atlanta United at Lower.com Field on August 7, 2021© Reuters

Columbus Crew kept their playoff chances alive last time out with a 3-2 win against fifth-placed Orlando City on Thursday, a good way to bounce back after defeat against New York Red Bulls.

Miguel Berry, Derrick Etienne and Lucas Zelarayan were on target against Orlando, and that was the fourth time that Caleb Porter's side have scored at least three goals in a single game this season.

Three points against DC United on Sunday will mean that Crew go level on points with their hosts and if the away side can win by a margin of three goals, then they will leapfrog DC United this weekend.

As much as there is incentive to attack on Sunday and try to turnaround the goal difference into their favour, Columbus should be wary of DC United's attacking threat as they have averaged nearly two goals per game in Washington this season.

This will be the third meeting between these two teams this campaign, and so far DC United and Columbus Crew have one victory to their name, with DC United winning the latest encounter 4-2 at the beginning of August.

DC United Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W

Columbus Crew Major League Soccer form:
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W

Columbus Crew form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W



Team News

Columbus Crew midfielder Luis Diaz (12) is stretchered off the field after being fouled by Atlanta United in the second half at Lower.com Field on August 7, 2021© Reuters

Edison Flores and Yordy Reyna will be absent from DC United's matchday squad on Sunday as they continue to be sidelined due to calf injuries.

Losada made five changes at half time during his side's 6-0 defeat against New York City, but all of the players who were substituted off the pitch on that day started last time out against New York Red Bulls.

After scoring what ended up to be the winning goal last time out, Paredes was forced off on Thursday after just 38 minutes, so he could be given a rest on Sunday, although, he is likely to be named amongst the substitutes.

Norwegian striker Ola Kamara is currently leading the goalscoring chart for the MLS this season and has the Golden Boot in his sights; however, the 32-year-old has failed to find the back of the net in his last five appearances.

Columbus Crew have injury concerns heading into Sunday's fixture, with Aidan Morris, Artur, Kevin Molino and Perry Kitchen all suffering from injuries and unavailable for selection.

Porter named an unchanged starting side for Crew's last outing, and after picking up victory against Orlando, the same 11 could take to the field this weekend also.

Berry will lead the line for the visitors, with Etienne, Zelarayan and Pedro Santos making up the attacking midfield unit behind the lone number nine.

DC United possible starting lineup:
Hamid; Pines, Birnbaum, Najar; Mora, Moreno, Canouse, Gressel; Kamara, Robertha, Arriola

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Room; Valenzuela, Wormgoor, Mensah, Moreira; Hairston, Nagbe; Santos, Zelarayan, Etienne; Berry


SM words green background

We say: DC United 1-1 Columbus Crew

Both teams picked up vital victories in their last matches against fellow playoff chasing teams, which could make Sunday's encounter more of a cagey affair as neither team will want to follow their last results up with defeat.

There have been at least two goals in each of Columbus Crew's last nine games between themselves and their opponents, which is why both teams are likely to get on the scoresheet this weekend.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data



ID:468579:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10947:
Written by
Sammy Wynne

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a DC United win with a probability of 55.89%. A draw had a probability of 23.5% and a win for Columbus Crew had a probability of 20.64%.

The most likely scoreline for a DC United win was 1-0 with a probability of 11.54%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (10.12%) and 2-1 (9.79%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (11.16%), while for a Columbus Crew win it was 0-1 (6.36%). The actual scoreline of 1-3 was predicted with a 1.7% likelihood.


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Game History

How you voted: DC United vs Columbus Crew

DC United
41.2%
Draw
52.9%
Columbus Crew
5.9%
17
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Tables header RHS

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721


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