DC United vs. Columbus Crew SC | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 21
D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union
Audi Field – Washington, D.C.
October 28 – 8:00 PM ET

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; on DAZN in Canada

LOCAL TV: WJLA 24/7 News, FOX Sports Ohio

After back-to-back wins and three games without a loss, D.C. United are within three points of the playoff line in the Eastern Conference when they host a Columbus Crew SC side needing a win to stay in the Supporters' Shield hunt.

D.C. United (4W-10L-6D) are coming off a dramatic 2-1 victory over Atlanta United, while Crew SC (10W-4L-5D), third place in the East, battled to a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium.

D.C. United

Don't look now, but here come D.C. United. Long left for dead, the Black-and-Red are unbeaten in their last three, have earned seven points from a possible nine in their last three games, and a last-minute 2-1 win over Atlanta has them within three points of the playoff line with three games to go. Gelmin Rivas scored the stoppage-time winner after Jon Gallagher leveled for Atlanta one minute from time.

Right back Chris Odoi-Atsem is sidelined as he goes through concussion protocol, D.C. United interim coach Chad Ashton said in a video conference call with reporters Tuesday. Odoi-Atsem suffered the injury early in a 2-1 win over Atlanta United Saturday, but played the full 90 minutes because he “didn't really realize he had it, but had symptoms postgame.”

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Paul Arriola (M) - ACL injury
- OUT: Mohammed Abu (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Ulises Segura (M) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Felipe (M) - ACL injury
- OUT: Steve Birnbaum (D) - undisclosed injury
- OUT: Chris Odoi-Atsem (D) - concussion protocol
- QUESTIONABLE: Frederic Brillant (D) - undisclosed injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Frederic Brillant (D), Junior Moreno (M)
International duty: None

Columbus Crew SC

Crew SC welcomed Eloy Room, Darlington Nagbe Lucas Zelarayan back from injury, but lost Gyasi Zardes to a knee injury in the day before the match and could only manage a Victor Cabrera own goal to equalize in a 1-1 draw against a Houston Dynamo team that had a 24-8 shots advantage.

"It’s great to be healthy with Eloy and healthy with Darlington and Lucas and that chemistry will definitely get better and better as we go through these last four games now," Caleb Porter said after the match.

On Tuesday, Porter said Zardes, a goal off the pace in the Golden Boot presented by Audi race, is "50-50" to play, while Aidan Morris suffered a hyperextension to his knee and is out against D.C. United.

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