In the underwhelming MLS Eastern Conference, only six of the 15 teams have winning records. That leaves nine clubs, who are separated by eight points in the standings, in a scramble for three playoff slots.
Among the group are D.C. United and the Columbus Crew, in 12th and 13th place, respectively. The teams meet Wednesday night in Washington, with both hoping to ignite their flickering postseason dreams.
Neither squad has shown much form of late. D.C. United (5-7-10, 25 points) have won just one of their last 11 MLS matches, going 1-3-7 over that span.
Columbus (6-12-5, 23 points), meanwhile, struggled through a winless August before breaking out with its most decisive MLS victory this season, 3-0 over the Colorado Rapids.
In a tumultuous year marked by managerial and roster turnover, the Crew may have finally discovered cohesion with a new lineup.
The catalysts are newcomers Gonzalo Tapia, who had a goal and an assist against Colorado, and Santiago Rodriguez, who also scored against the Rapids.
It was Tapia’s second game with Columbus and the debut for Rodriguez. Both arrived from Brazil’s Serie A. The win they helped deliver snapped a four-match losing streak.
“I think you see the quality of the guys who’ve been brought in this summer,” said Crew captain and midfielder Sean Zawadzki. “Now, how can we build off this performance (Saturday) and look forward to (D.C. United)?”
The additions of Tapia and Rodriguez help compensate for the departures of Diego Rossi, Max Arfsten and Daniel Gazdag and the loss of Wessam Abou Ali to a torn ACL. The foursome had combined for 18 goals this season for the Crew.
Columbus also looks forward to incorporating Anass Zaroury, another scoring threat who was acquired on loan last week from Greek Super League 1 side Panathinaikos.
D.C. United have returned home after their Saturday night match at FC Cincinnati was called off because of inclement weather.
D.C. has put up just two goals in its last four matches. The lack of firepower can be traced in part to a knee injury to Tai Baribo (12 goals), who was listed as available on Saturday, though not as a starter.
D.C. United also will look to Louis Munteanu (six goals) as well as versatile Jackson Hopkins (two goals), who has shuttled between forward and multiple spots in the midfield this season.
“He loves the sport,” D.C. coach Rene Weiler said of Hopkins. “He loves to run. He loves to create anything.”
This is the first meeting this year between the teams. The Crew have a nine-match unbeaten streak (6-0-3) against D.C. United dating to 2021.
–Field Level Media
