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Major League Soccer
Apr 9, 2022 at 11pm UK
PPL Park
CC

Philadelphia
1 - 0
Columbus Crew

Room (2' og.)
Sullivan (79')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Moreira (66')

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

:Headline: Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Philadelphia Union are looking to continue their unbeaten start to this year's MLS season when they welcome Columbus Crew to Subaru Park on Saturday.

The visitors are currently sitting fifth on eight points, five points behind league leaders Philadelphia, who could extend their lead at the top to six points if second and third place lose this weekend.


Match preview

Not only do Jim Curtin's side enter this fixture on the back of four consecutive victories, a 2-0 win against new outfit Charlotte FC on Sunday meant that they recorded their third clean sheet in a row also.

Julian Carranza and Daniel Gazdag were on the scoresheet against Charlotte, and that outing turned out to be a comfortable day at the office for Union, which is something they will look to replicate this weekend.

Philadelphia have a clear style which is working for them at the moment, as they give up possession to their opposition, averaging the lowest percentage across the country, but they are very dangerous on the counter-attack.

Curtin's team are not showing any weakness away from home or on their own patch, with a 100% record so far on their travels, which means that they are only one win from equalling their entire total of away victories from last year.

Union had a very good record at Subaru Park last term, only tasting defeat three times on home soil, and they are showing that they are capable of another good season which they will be confident about continuing this weekend.

Columbus Crew were unbeaten at the start of this season before last weekend, but when they welcomed Nashville to the Lower.com Field that record vanished as they fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Caleb Porter's side would have felt hard done by coming away from that loss, having dominated possession and created more clear cut chances than their visitors, but that should teach the Crew to be more clinical in front of goal.

That was the first outing Columbus have failed to find the back of the net in this season, but after two draws from their first two away games, Saturday's visitors are likely to have to get on the scoresheet more than once to find their first win on their travels.

Crew are the top scorers in the Eastern Conference, having netted 10 times in five matches, which does bode well for Porter's team moving forward and further into the season.

Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • W

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

Team News

Curtin has a fully fit and available squad to choose from this weekend, and he could name the same starting 11 as last weekend, but Alejandro Bedoya is expected to return to the side in place of Quinn Sullivan.

The hosts will not operate with recognised attacking wide players, but with Carranza and Sergio Santos leading the line as a pair, and Bedoya and Leon Flach in a more advanced role from midfield, Philadelphia will look to release these players on counter-attacks.

Isaiah Parente, Jake Morris, Josh Williams and Kevin Molino will all be absent from Columbus' squad due to injury and illness, but there are no new issues for Nancy to work around.

Crew will operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Miguel Berry likely to lead the line, looking for his second goal of the season after opening his account this year on the opening day.

Lucas Zelarayan, Darlington Nagbe and Artur will continue to make up the central midfield three, while Derrick Etienne and Yaw Yeboah offer an attacking threat from out wide.

Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup:
Blake; Wagner, Elliott, Glesnes, Harriel; Martinez, Flach, Gazdag, Bedoya; Santos, Carranza

Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Room; Santos, Degenek, Mensah, Moreira; Nagbe, Artur; Etienne, Zelarayan, Yeboah; Berry


We say: Philadelphia Union 2-1 Columbus Crew

Philadelphia have kept three consecutive clean sheets, but Columbus are the highest scorers in the division at the moment, so the visitors are likely to find the back of the net on Saturday.

However, Union are in great form and will look to capitalise on the fact that Crew lost last weekend which may have knocked some of their confidence.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 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.Under 3.5:data




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Premier League Table

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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