By The Numbers pres. by Ohio Business Machines | Crew hosts Union on Saturday

These are the games that supporters dream about. On Saturday night, the Columbus Crew hosts the Philadelphia Union at Lower.com Field in a pivotal match with massive implications. You up for it?

Three Things To Know

4 – Including Saturday, the Crew has four games left in the 2023 regular season. Currently, the Black & Gold are fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, one point behind … the Union. Simply put, three points for Columbus would leapfrog the club up the conference standings to third place – and possibly second. We’re in the time of year when the margins are tight, so playing at a Lower.com Field could be a huge advantage. Again, these are the nights we hope will pop up. Now that it’s arrived, let’s be ready. 

61 – Not that you need a reminder, but might as well give you one anyway … the Black & Gold lead MLS with 61 goals scored through 30 matches. Scoring more than two goals a game, the Crew has been dominant on the front foot. While there’s the trio of Cucho Hernández, Diego Rossi and Christian Ramirez, the goals have also built up from the back. The Crew’s backline has been solid since the arrival of Rudy Camacho and Julian Gressel, and the midfield has been incredibly steady to date. The club’s 57.2% possession rate leads the league, and recently, head coach Wilfried Nancy’s team was named the most exciting in MLS. One note: Philadelphia is second in the conference with 52 goals scored. 

3 – As mentioned, Philadelphia has produced a fine season to follow up last season’s Eastern Conference title. The Union are a point above the Crew, but that won’t matter once kickoff rolls around. One thing to note: the Union is 5-7-3 on the road this season, and the Crew is 11-1-3 at home. Speaking of three, Saturday night will be three nights removed from the Union’s last match: a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on Wednesday night. Don’t forget that Columbus played to a 1-1 draw with FCD this past Saturday on the road in Texas. 

When They Last Met

Let’s transport back to the first match of the 2023 campaign – and Nancy’s first leading Columbus. On Feb. 25, the Crew took a lead before losing, 4-1, at Subaru Park. The last meeting in the Ohio capital finished level, 0-0, on July 3, 2022. 

Match Overview

Who: Columbus Crew hosts Philadelphia Union

When: Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Lower.com Field

Tickets: Let’s Be Massive

How to Watch: MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app

How to Listen: 97.1 HD3/The Fan Stream, La Mega 103.1 FM

Current Standings: Columbus Crew – Fourth in Eastern Conference; Philadelphia Union – Third in Eastern Conference