The Columbus Crew will look to extend their winning streak to three games by knocking off D.C. United for the second time this season when they visit the nation’s capital on Saturday.
The Crew (3-2-1, 10 points) are coming off a 4-0 win over visiting Real Salt Lake on April 1, while D.C. United (1-3-2, 5 points) played to a scoreless draw at the Chicago Fire that day. D.C. United haven’t won since a season-opening 3-2 victory over Toronto FC on Feb. 25.
The Crew have outscored their last two opponents, Real Salt Lake and Atlanta United, by a combined margin of 10-1.
Aidan Morris and Lucas Zelarayan are tied for fourth in the league with three goals apiece. Alexandru Matan and Steven Moreira’s four and three assists are tied for second and sixth, in the league, respectively.
Morris scored two goals, Zelarayan converted a penalty shot and Yaw Yeboah capped the scoring in the third minute of second-half stoppage time against RSL.
“I’m really happy because the more difficult it’s going to be, the more we have to stay focused on the task and also get good emotional control,” Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy said. “They were able to do it for the moment.”
Patrick Schulte made five saves to earn his first shutout for the Crew in place of Eloy Room, who was left off the match day roster after playing for Curacao during the international match window the previous week. However, Room is expected to start against D.C. United after shutting them out 2-0 last month.
D.C. United’s offense was nonexistent against the Fire. The Black and Red put just three of their nine shots on target against Chicago.
D.C. goalie Tyler Miller notched his first shutout of the season and the 32nd of his eight-year career. Miller had no shutouts last season, but he posted 11 in 2021 as a member of Minnesota United.
The defensive showing was encouraging for D.C., which had allowed 10 goals through its first five games.
“As a spectacle, it wasn’t the most enjoyable game to watch,” D.C. United coach Wayne Rooney said. “But it was so important that we picked up the clean sheet.”
D.C. hasn’t scored since Christian Benteke’s team-leading third goal of the season staked his team to a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute in a 2-1 loss to the visiting New England Revolution on March 25.
In D.C. United and Columbus’ previous meeting this season, Zelarayan scored in the 10th and 44th minutes to lead the Crew to a 2-0 win on March 4.
–Field Level Media
