The Black & Gold return to MLS motion on Sunday evening when the Columbus Crew heads south as soon as extra to face Japanese Convention facet Nashville SC. Whereas final week paired Columbus in opposition to the convention’s high workforce, this weekend it’s the second-place facet that Wilfried Nancy and his workforce will play in opposition to.
10 vs. 10 – No huge deal, however Sunday evening’s matchup may characteristic two of the league’s high abilities: Lucas Zelarayán and Hany Mukhtar. Everyone knows about Lucas, who has a aim or help in 5 of his final seven MLS video games. The Armenia worldwide has scored in consecutive video games and has six objectives and three assists already to his identify in 2023. However then there’s Hany, who was dubbed the 2022 Landon Donovan MVP. Mukhtar is as much as eight objectives and 6 assists by means of in 12 league appearances this season. Whereas Crew followers are all the time handled to watching high quality attacking gamers, the battle between these two on reverse sides of the pitch is the headline story for this match.
13 – Following Wednesday evening’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup departure in opposition to Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, the Crew can regroup Sunday evening when the membership travels to Nashville’s GEODIS Park for the primary time. With the Open Cup within the rear-view mirror, the Black & Gold will solely have league matches for the subsequent two months till the Leagues Cup begins July 23. For the previous month, Nancy has closely rotated his squad to compete in two competitions. Apart from a Wednesday evening house date subsequent week in opposition to the Colorado Rapids, the Crew doesn’t have a midweek match on its calendar till Independence Day. Whereas this implies there may very well be much less rotation within the squad, it additionally means we’ll have a greater thought of Nancy’s most well-liked XI coming into the halfway level within the season.
9 – Nashville SC, as soon as a Western Convention foe, is now within the Japanese Convention following St. Louis CITY SC becoming a member of MLS this season. Nashville’s achieved effectively within the east to this point and is at the moment positioned second within the convention standings. Nashville additionally misplaced its U.S. Open Cup match this week — a 2-1 loss at Inter Miami CF — and enters Sunday evening unbeaten in its final six league matches. As talked about above, Mukhtar is the most important attacking menace, however the membership’s backline additionally deserves reward. With solely 9 objectives allowed by means of 14 video games, Nashville’s protection has been one of the best throughout the league.
Columbus was defeated, 1-0, when the golf equipment clashed at Decrease.com Subject on April 2, 2022. Within the final assembly in Tennessee, the match completed degree, 1-1. That evening — Oct. 20, 2021 — Zelarayán scored within the seventy fifth minute earlier than Mukhtar produced the equalizer two minutes later.
Who: Columbus Crew at Nashville SC
When: Sunday, Could 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Easy methods to Hear: 97.1 HD3/The Fan Stream, La Mega 103.1 FM
Present Standings: Columbus Crew – Eighth in Japanese Convention; Nashville SC – Second in Japanese Convention