Orlando City SC vs. Columbus Crew SC | 2018 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

Orlando City SC vs. Columbus Crew SC
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 34
Orlando City Stadium — Orlando
October 21 — 3 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)

With D.C. United racing up the ladder in the Eastern Conference, Columbus Crew SC need a win over Orlando City SC to not only fend off the Black-and-Red, but also possibly move up to fourth place on Sunday afternoon.

Crew SC are looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to the Montreal Impact, while Orlando City SC suffered a third straight defeat Wednesday night, falling to Seattle Sounders FC, 2-1.

This is the second meeting this season, with Columbus winning 3-2 at MAPFRE Stadium on July 21. After Gyasi Zardes canceled out Sacha Kljestan’s first-half goal, Stefano Pinho gave the Lions a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute. But Zardes equalized from the penalty spot two minutes from full time and Wil Trapp scored the remarkable winner in the second minute of stoppage time.

Orlando City SC

The goalless streak ended, but the winless run continues for Orlando (7-21-4) following a 2-1 home loss to the Sounders Wednesday night.

Victor Rodriguez gave the visitors the lead three minutes after kickoff and Handwalla Bwana made it 2-0 just 10 minutes later. It was the 71st goal the Lions conceded, setting a dubious MLS record. Dom Dwyer pulled the Lions to within a goal in the 57th minute, ending a 507-minute shutout streak.

“We need to stop defending the way we’re defending,” James O’Connor said. “I think, when you look at the games, we’re chasing the game. We put ourselves in a position where we’re 1-nil down after two-and-half minutes and three minutes. I think that’s something that we continually do. I think it becomes very difficult to go and win games when we’re defending like we’re defending.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None
Injury Report: OUT: M - Richie Laryea (concussion protocol), M - Pierre Da Silva (torn meniscus), D - Jonathan Spector (back injury), F - Stefano Pinho (quad injury)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Adam Grinwis — Scott Sutter, Shane O’Neill, Lamine Sane, Will Johnson — Carlos Ascues, Uri Rosell — Josue Colman, Sacha Kljestan, Chris Mueller — Dom Dwyer

Columbus Crew SC

Columbus (13-10-9) enter the penultimate weekend of the regular season with a one-point lead over surging D.C. United in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, while just two points behind the Philadelphia Union.

The Crew are looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to the Montreal impact on Oct. 6, a game that saw the hosts have a two-goal advantage at the break on goals by Saphir Taider and Alejandro Silva before Ignacio Piatti put the game away with the third tally in the 59th minute.

“Last game we suffered in transition and we want to do a better job in defensive transition against them and keep compact,” Gregg Berhalter said of Orlando. “I think they were very good in transition in that game, I think they got their fullbacks in attack really well and they like to combine between the lines. Overall, it’s a group that’s developing and I’m sure they’re going to be looking at these games with a point to prove.”

Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: M - Federico Higuain, D - Jonathan Mensah
International duty: None
Injury Report: None

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Zack Steffen — Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams, Milton Valenzuela — Artur, Wil Trapp — Pedro Santos, Federico Higuain, Justin Meram — Gyasi Zardes

All-Time Series

Overall: Orlando City SC 1 win, 13 goals … Columbus Crew SC 5 wins, 20 goals … 3 draws
At Orlando: Orlando City SC 1 win, 9 goals … Crew SC 2 wins, 10 goals … 2 draws
Last meeting at Orlando: Orlando City SC 0, Columbus Crew SC 1 (Oct. 15, 2017)