Columbus Crew SC vs. Philadelphia Union | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 22
Columbus Crew SC vs. Philadelphia Union
MAPFRE Stadium – Columbus
November 1 – 3:30 PM ET

TV: ABC, TSN

The Philadelphia Union are on the precipice of making history and head to MAPFRE Stadium Sunday to take on Columbus Crew SC knowing the first Supporters' Shield crown in club history is within grasp.

The Union (13W-3L-5D) lead Toronto FC by three points in the Shield race heading in their penultimate match of the season after defeating Chicago Fire FC 2-1 at Subaru Park Wednesday. Coming off a 1-0 loss to D.C. United on Wednesday, Crew SC (10W-5L-5D) would like to reverse their current form, which has seen them win just once in their last seven games, and lock down one of the coveted top four spots in the East.

This is the second meeting this season, with Crew SC winning 1-0 on Sept. 2 courtesy of a Lucas Zelarayan second half goal. At the time, Porter's side topped the Shield race.

Columbus Crew SC

After losing just twice in their first 15 games, Columbus have now dropped three of their last five games, including a shock 1-0 defeat to D.C. United Wednesday at Audi Field. Without Gyasi Zardes for a second straight match with a minor knee injury, and Darlington Nagbe and Zelarayan coming on as second-half substitutes, a rotated Crew SC only put one of their seven shots on frame.

"There are a lot of positives, but I don’t think it’s going to be one [match] where we dissect and go through a ton because at the end of the day, we’re going to put our best foot forward with our top lineup in the last three games," Caleb Porter said after the match.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Vito Wormgoor (D) - ankle injury
Suspended: Josh Williams (D)
Suspended after next caution: Harrison Afful (D), Luis Diaz (M)
International duty: None

Philadelphia Union

Goals in each half by Kacper Przybylko and Cory Burke helped secure a 2-1 win over Fire FC Wednesday at Subaru Park. It was Philadelphia's third straight win, which extended an unbeaten streak to six matches and, coupled with Toronto FC's loss to NYCFC, put the Union on the brink of history.

"You could feel a little bit more pressure, which always makes everyone play a little bit different, a little bit tense at the beginning of the game," Jim Curtin said after the match. "[We] weren’t ourselves to start, but then kind of came into the game and made some decent plays and created some chances. ... I can’t say enough just how proud I am of the players, their resiliency, their ability to adjust, adapt, and embrace any new challenge that comes their way."

If the Union do clinch their first Shield, they'll have to do so without Andre Blake. The Jamaican international is ruled out with a fracture to his hand, though Curtin said there's a chance it's not a season-ending injury.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Jose Martinez (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Andre Blake (GK) - fractured hand
- QUESTIONABLE: Warren Creavalle (M) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None