As a Lower.com Field anniversary gift, Columbus Crew get East’s top team in Philadelphia

There will be cause for celebration Sunday at Lower.com Field, and not just because this is the weekend marking America's independence.

When the Crew (5-5-6, 21 points) kick off against Philadelphia Union (7-2-8, 29 points) at 7:30 p.m., it will have been one year since the inaugural game at the Crew’s downtown stadium. And although he has to sit out until the transfer window opens July 7th, new signee Cucho Hernandez will be introduced to a crowd that hopes to soon be shouting his name as he quenches their thirst for more scoring and more victories at home.

The Crew are unbeaten in their last four games, including two road wins – most recently at Toronto FC on Wednesday. But they have just one win in their past five home games. A victory over Philadelphia Sunday would be a clear sign that this stretch is no fluke, but rather a turning point from a slow first couple of months.

“Our mentality is excellent right now. We know we need to create and score more goals, but I think the guys know how we're going to do that,” coach Caleb Porter said. “We need to, in this last half of the year, put more of a marker down on our home pitch that this is going to be a place where no one's coming in to get points off us.”

"There's definitely a little more edge that all the guys play with," Crew midfielder Aidan Morris, right, said of playing at Lower.com Field.
"There's definitely a little more edge that all the guys play with," Crew midfielder Aidan Morris, right, said of playing at Lower.com Field.

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Columbus Crew have a winning record at Lower.com Field so far

Since Lower.com Field opened, the Crew have won only half their home games, with a record of 10-7-3. Their 10 points this season, resulting from a 3-3-1 record, tie them with Cincinnati for the second-lowest home-points total in MLS.

Granted, the Crew have played one fewer game than most MLS teams, have played the majority of their games on the road and have accumulated 11 points in those nine road matches to stay just three points back of a playoff spot entering the 17th of 34 regular-season games. All that being said, the team is aware they need to start making Lower.com Field a more difficult place to play.

“You truly see when you play these home games what these fans mean to you and what you mean to them. I think that's where it dwells on you a bit,” midfielder Aidan Morris said. “Obviously picking up three points every single game there is ideal, but it’s not easy. I can tell you when we're home – I mean, we always give our max effort, but at home, there's definitely a little more edge that all the guys play with.”

Darlington Nagbe's play in midfield has helped spearhead a four-game unbeaten streak for the Crew.
Darlington Nagbe's play in midfield has helped spearhead a four-game unbeaten streak for the Crew.

Philadelphia is tied for third in the East, and this is the team's first trip to Lower.com Field. The Crew haven’t hosted the Union since the 2021 season opener at Historic Crew Stadium. They also haven’t scored in any of their past four meetings against the Union.

That includes a 1-0 loss at Philadelphia on April 9, but since then, the Crew have started to figure out a way to get points consistently. With Morris, Darlington Nagbe and rookie Sean Zawadzki, the Crew midfield has been difficult for other teams’ attacks to break down. The Union, however, have allowed just 13 goals in 17 games, the fewest in MLS.

"I think when you look at the team now in the last few games, I think we're a lot more unified in terms of we're all on the same agenda, we're all on the same plan,” Morris said. “I'm not saying before we weren't. But I just think now things are jelling really nicely. I think coach and everyone's doing a good job of keeping our mindset in the right place.”

Columbus Crew    

Record: 5-5-6, 21 pts., 9th in East   

Projected Starting XI (3-5-2):    

Eloy Room (goalkeeper), Josh Williams (center back), Jonathan Mensah (center back), Miloš Degenek (center back), Pedro Santos (left wingback), Sean Zawadzki (central midfielder), Darlington Nagbe (central midfielder), Aidan Morris (central midfielder), Steven Moreira (right wingback), Lucas Zelarayan (forward), Jacen Russell-Rowe (forward) 

What to watch: The other recent striker signing, 19-year-old Jacen Russell-Rowe had two assists in his first MLS start. It will be difficult to take him out of the lineup after that start. The same applies to Sean Zawadzki, who scored on Wednesday at Toronto. The main question will be if Porter rolls with a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2. 

Philadelphia Union   

Record: 7-2-8, 29 pts., 3rd in East 

Projected Starting XI (4-3-1-2):    

Andre Blake (goalkeeper), Kai Wagner (left back), Jack Elliott (center back), Jakob Glesnes (center back), Nathan Harriel (right back), Leon Flach (central midfielder), JAck McGlynn (central midfielder), Alejandro Bedoya (central midfielder), Daniel Gazdag (attacking midfielder), Julian Carranza (forward), Mikael Uhre (forward).    

Player to watch: Jose Martinez has become one of the best central defensive midfielders in MLS, but he's out with a red-card suspension. The Union will need Carranza and Uhre to challenge the Crew's back line.

Prediction  

Columbus 1, Philadelphia 1: The Crew haven’t scored against the Union since November 2020. Andre Blake is one of the best goalkeepers in MLS. But the Union haven’t been great offensively as of late, losing 1-0 to then-last place Chicago on Wednesday. The Crew get an acceptable point at home. 

jmyers@dispatch.com

@_jcmyers


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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew know more wins needed at home, starting against Union