Crew Look to Stay Unbeaten as D.C. United Visit
Two Eastern Conference foes with vastly different recent results face off Saturday as D.C. United host the unbeaten Columbus Crew in a matchup that could test one team’s resilience and the other’s consistency.
The Crew (2-0-3, 9 points) remain one of just two undefeated teams in MLS alongside Inter Miami, despite recent struggles to find the back of the net. Columbus has drawn their last three matches, scoring only once during that stretch, but they’ve remained steady thanks to a strong defensive foundation.
Their latest outing—a 0-0 draw against New York City FC—was a dominant performance everywhere except on the scoreboard. The Crew outshot NYCFC 23-5 and finished with 1.6 expected goals compared to just 0.2 for the opposition.
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“Sometimes it’s not about how we attack the box,” Crew coach Wilfried Nancy said. “This is about spontaneity, and I think the last game we could have been better.”
Despite the missed opportunities, Columbus remains a threat, especially with several key players returning to the fold. Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, midfielder Max Arfsten, and defender Mo Farsi are back from international duty, and defender Malte Amundsen returns from suspension—adding depth and stability across the field.
Nancy believes the Crew are trending in the right direction, even if the wins haven’t come in bunches just yet.
“We are consistent. This is most important,” he said. “After that, this season is young. It does no good to talk about the future but for the moment what we are doing is interesting.”
D.C. United Aiming to Bounce Back
D.C. United (1-1-3, 6 points) enters Saturday’s game reeling from a 4-1 loss to Orlando City, a match that exposed defensive vulnerabilities and left head coach Troy Lesesne pushing for a quick mental reset.
“I want the players to come back in and be ready to get ready for Columbus. That’s all I care about,” Lesesne said. “We have to have the type of reflection that’s going to help us prepare for this week and get past this.”
Despite the loss, D.C. showed flashes of quality in the Orlando match—moments Lesesne believes the team can build on. And they do have a key weapon up front: Christian Benteke. The Belgian striker is once again among the league’s most dangerous forwards, already netting three of United’s seven goals this season after a 23-goal campaign in 2023.
Benteke will be the focus of Columbus’ defense, which has been one of the most organized in MLS thus far. For D.C., capitalizing on his form while tightening things up at the back will be key.
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Points, Pressure, and Progress
As the regular season picks up steam, both clubs enter this match with urgency—Columbus looking to maintain its unbeaten status and generate goals, D.C. United needing a result to stay within striking distance of the playoff pack.
For fans tracking MLS predictions or considering smart bets on league form, this clash of a consistent Crew and a volatile United side offers intriguing value. Stay ahead of the game with expert soccer picks built on real insights.