Philadelphia Union’s regular season schedule is nearing its close, but the team still has two more chances to boost their point total before the Major League Soccer playoff field is set. Head Coach Jim Curtin’s squad will take on Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Lower.com Field, and there’s a lot at stake for the visitors.
Philadelphia Union sits one spot below the playoff line at 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, and amidst a congested table, their two matches ahead could make all the difference in their effort to jump up above the cutoff.
Saturday will mark the third time this year Philadelphia Union has faced Columbus Crew, including the Leagues Cup Semifinal in August, but the Boys in Blue have yet to find a win.
Crew has built a well-deserved reputation as one of the top teams in the league, hoisting both the 2023 MLS Cup and 2024 Leagues Cup in the past year alone. Head Coach Wilfried Nancy has led the group to new heights, and with premier players like Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi in historic form, taking home points is a tall task for any visiting team.
"We sit in a spot where, with two games left, we know that if we win both, we'll be in the playoffs. The challenge is now we have a really tough opponent in Columbus, who we will have played now for the third time in about the last six weeks," Curtin said.
"We are very familiar with them. They're very talented. They've had a ton of games in recent weeks. But regardless of whether they rotate or make some changes, they still have a very deep squad, very dangerous squad, and one that we need to be prepared for to get a result."
Columbus has lost just four regular season home matches all season, the most being a 3-2 battle against Inter Miami in a marquee midweek matchup on Wednesday.
A stunning first half 5-minute brace from Lionel Messi set the tone, and with a Luis Suarez goal in the 48th minute, Miami claimed the Supporters Shield. Despite a pair of second half goals from Rossi and Hernández, who’ve combined for 29 so far this season, it wasn’t enough to overcome Miami, as French defender Rudy Camacho earned a red card in the 63rd minute, leaving Columbus down a goal and a man for the remainder of the match.
Both the hosts and Philadelphia entered Saturday’s contest coming off a loss as Head Coach Jim Curtin’s squad fell 2-1 to Orlando City in Florida on that same night. While the team is expected to be at near full health, both Jack Daniel Gazdag and Kai Wagner will be on yellow card accumulation watch.
A result against Columbus Crew is crucial, because should Philadelphia Union leave Ohio without any points, there is one scenario that would eliminate them from the playoffs before decision day. If Philadelphia loses, a Toronto FC win against Inter Miami and a CF Montréal win or draw against Charlotte would take them out of contention.
