Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 3/1
Bookmaker: Luckster
Sunday’s first MLS clash will feature the Columbus Crew aiming to narrow the gap on Eastern Conference leaders Philadelphia Union at Lower.com Field.
A 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Wednesday lifted the Crew to fourth place in the East, six points behind Philly, who edged Chicago Fire 1-0 in their own midweek outing.
Columbus Crew
A 12-day break didn’t slow Columbus down on Wednesday, as they controlled much of the match against Atlanta United and came away with a convincing 3-1 win.
Wilfried Nancy’s side have now secured back-to-back victories in MLS and have a chance this weekend to match their longest winning streak of the 2025 season at three matches.
At Lower.com Field, the Crew have been especially strong, earning at least a point in their last six home games, winning four of them. They’ve scored 20 of their 32 league goals this year on home turf and have conceded one goal or fewer in three of their last four at the venue.
Columbus have also proven effective at starting quickly, taking a halftime lead in six league games so far this season and going on to win five of them, remaining unbeaten in such situations.
The Crew remain unbeaten against Philadelphia Union at Lower.com Field, having edged a 3-2 thriller in this fixture last season.
In midweek, Columbus were missing several players through injury: Cesar Ruvalcaba Perez (ankle), Patrick Schulte (torso), Rudy Camacho (thigh), and Malte Amundsen (knee) all sat out.
Additionally, goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen will miss the match due to Guatemala’s Gold Cup quarter-final against Canada, while Max Arfsten is away with the U.S. squad, who face Costa Rica.
Team News
Against Atlanta, Canadian striker Jacen Russell-Rowe netted a brace, while Andres Herrera added the third, highlighting the Crew’s attacking depth despite absences.
Philadelphia Union
One of the league’s standout defensive sides this season, Philadelphia Union delivered another clinical performance at the back in midweek, securing their eighth clean sheet of the 2025 regular season.
They have now conceded just 19 goals in league play—second fewest overall—and have allowed no more than one goal in each of their last six MLS away matches. Bradley Carnell’s team also lead the league in road wins this year (six), already eclipsing their total from the 2024 campaign.
Unbeaten in their last 13 matches across all competitions, the Union have proven incredibly difficult to overcome. Of their league-high 12 victories in 2025, seven have been decided by a single goal, including four away from home.
However, their track record in Columbus is far less dominant. Philadelphia haven’t won there since 2016, when they edged a 2-1 result at Historic Crew Stadium.
Team News
Olivier Mbaizo and Mikael Uhre were absent on Wednesday due to adductor issues, while Tai Baribo was unable to join the squad after being stranded in Israel during the international window.
The Union will also be without Quinn Sullivan and Nathan Harriel, both on Gold Cup duty with the United States. However, Danley Jean Jacques and Andre Blake could return, with Haiti and Jamaica both having exited the tournament.
Against Chicago, Bruno Damiani converted a 10th-minute penalty to secure a narrow win, while Andrew Rick earned the clean sheet with two saves in goal.
Conclusion
While the Crew have shown notable improvement in recent weeks, the Union’s defensive solidity and consistent knack for grinding out results give them a slight edge in tight contests.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 3/1
Bookmaker: Luckster
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