Photo: Kyle Grantham

Who: Philadelphia Union vs Columbus Crew

What: MLS Regular Season Match

Where: Lower.Com Field, Columbus, Ohio

When: 7:30 PM EST

Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+

Or listen in on 97.5 FM with Dave Leno and Sebastien Le Toux on the call

Whistle: 

REF: Allen Chapman

AR1: Logan Brown

AR2: Meghan Mullen

4TH: Thomas Snyder

VAR: Carol Anne Chenard

AVAR: Ian McKay

After disappointing results in their previous two fixtures, the Philadelphia Union will travel to reigning champions Columbus Crew in an MLS matchup that could decide the Boys in Blue’s playoff fate.

Scouting Report: Columbus Crew
The Union were not the only team that suffered a disappointing mid-week loss last time out. In the Crew’s heavyweight clash with Inter Miami, Columbus dropped the result 3-2, losing out on the Supporters’ Shield. Still, Wilfried Nancy and his men won’t be too upset. They retain hold of 2nd place in the East and can’t finish lower than 3rd. 

It’s possible Nancy rotates his players after a tough mid-week game and having already locked down a top seed for the playoffs. But, there’s no reason to expect any mercy from the Crew as they have a dangerous Cincinnati trailing them in 3rd by just one point.

Danger men for the Crew include former LAFC and Fenerbache forward Diego Rossi, DP Cucho Hernandez, and veteran striker Christian Ramirez. Mo Farsi and the illustrious Darlington Nagbe are influential from midfield but, Columbus will be without center back Rudy Camacho following his dismisal versus Miami.

Injury Report:

OUT: Evan Bush (arm)

OUT: Sean Zawadzki (torso)

Suspended: 

Rudy Camacho (CLB): Red Card – Second Caution

International Duty: N/a

Scouting Report: Philadelphia Union
Jim Curtin will need to get the best out of his Union this Saturday. The Crew are a formidable opponent. They have a stacked roster from top to bottom and an elite coach in Nancy. To make matters worse Curtin and the Union haven’t beaten them since an Opening Day 4-1 win last season. 

In an interesting schedule quirk, the two teams met twice in one week at the end of August. First, the Union traveled to Lower.Com field for the Leagues Cup Semi-Final, a game in which Columbus thoroughly beat the visiting Boys in Blue 3-1. Then, the Union hosted the Crew at Subaru the following Wednesday but were narrowly beaten 1-0. 

Point is, these two teams are familiar with each other. It’s hard to beat any team three times in a season, and the Union are starting down the barrel of playoff elimination if they don’t get a result.

Injury Report:

OUT: Isaiah LeFlore (knee)

Suspended: N/a

International Duty: N/a

Key Matchup: Battle in the Midfield 

Last time out the Union took too long to establish control of the game against Orlando. They frequently lost the ball in the middle of the park and it cost them. They will need to adjust or else Columbus will shred through them like they did in the Leagues Cup match.

Player to Watch: Quinn Sullivan

Despite the difficulties of the season, Sullivan has begun to emerge as one of the top young talents in the league. After his goal against Orlando the Home Grown is up to 4 goals and 11 assists on the year. He’s been one of the few bright spots for Philly, and the Union will need a big game from him in a massive match for the club.

Prediction: 2-1 Columbus 

If the last two games are indicative of the 2024 Philadelphia Union, they’d need a lot of help to win this matchup. Columbus have less to play for, but they have rarely lacked motivation this year, and will want prime position to defend their MLS title. 

The Union will be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose (AND Montreal gets a result versus Charlotte AND Toronto beats Miami). It’s backs against the wall time, but it feels like the Boys in Blue will come up agonizingly short once again.