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Call it an unexpected matchup for the top spot in the Eastern Conference when the Columbus Crew visit the Philadelphia Union on Saturday in Chester, Pa.

While the first-place Crew (7-1-3, 24 points) won the 2023 MLS Cup and were a serious contender again last season, there were questions about their future when they sold leading scorer Cucho Hernandez to Spain’s Real Betis in the offseason.

Yet, this is only the second time (2020) in franchise history that Columbus has just one loss through 11 matches.

The Union (7-3-1, 22 points), tied for second in the East with FC Cincinnati, have been even more impressive under first-year coach Bradley Carnell after not making the playoffs last season, prompting the firing of longtime coach Jim Curtin.

Philadelphia has won three straight MLS matches but will be disadvantaged by needing 120 minutes and penalty kicks to defeat USL Championship club Indy Eleven in the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday.

Carnell said it will be a challenge Saturday but rotating the roster for the midweek match was a benefit.

“I think you want to be competitive in every game, and I think we have a game model and a squad to be competitive in everything we do,” he said.

The Crew have made up for the loss of Hernandez with balanced scoring, a hallmark of coach Wilfried Nancy. On the final goal of a 4-2 win vs. Charlotte FC last Saturday, Jacen Russell-Rowe scored after a 17-pass build-up that took 70 seconds.

“All the goals came in different ways, but it was interesting to see that we can score in many ways,” Nancy said.

Meanwhile, the Union hope forward Tai Baribo regains his scoring touch. He is tied for the league lead with seven goals but has only one in the past seven matches.

Crew midfielder Daniel Gazdag, the Union’s career goals leader with 59, could play against his former team for the first time since being traded to Columbus on April 11. He missed the Charlotte match due to a leg contusion.

Gazdag signed a contract extension Wednesday with the Crew through the 2027 season.

The Union announced the signing Friday of midfielder Ben Bender, 24. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft was waived last month after four seasons at Charlotte FC.

–Field Level Media