Nashville SC make the journey north to Ohio to lock horns with Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field for an Eastern Conference clash in MLS on Sunday.
While the visitors are seeking to bounce back from defeat last time out, the hosts are hoping to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
Match preview
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After winning three successive MLS matches, Columbus Crew were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw away against New York City FC last Saturday.
The Crew appeared to be heading for a slender victory after Christian Ramirez had opened the scoring early in the second half with his seventh goal of the campaign, but a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser from Gabriel Segal rescued a point for the hosts.
Just past the halfway point in the campaign, Wilfried Nancy finds his team sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference table, three points clear of eighth-placed Montreal CF who sit just outside the Final Series qualification spots.
Columbus Crew have been one of the most prolific teams in MLS so far this season, scoring a total of 36 goals and netting in 17 of their 18 matches – only Atalanta United (37) have scored more across either Conference division.
However, the Ohio-based outfit have failed win any of their last five meetings with Nashville and drew a blank in front of goal in their last two home encounters, including a 1-0 loss in April last year.
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Nashville's club-record 10-game unbeaten run in MLS, including seven wins and three draws, has come to an end courtesy of a narrow 1-0 defeat at Montreal on Thursday.
A first-half strike from Bryce Duke condemned Gary Smith's side to their fourth loss of the campaign and their first defeat since mid-April, and they now find themselves some way behind league leaders Cincinnati.
Indeed, Nashville remain second in the Eastern Conference but sit eight points behind Cincinnati who have a game in hand; third-placed New England Revolution, meanwhile, can leapfrog Smith's men into second if they win their game in hand.
Nevertheless, Nashville are still enjoying their best-ever MLS season after picking up 35 points from 19 matches, surpassing their previous record of 31 points accumulated at the same stage in 2021.
The Tennessee-based outfit, who boast the best defensive record in MLS having only conceded 14 goals all season, will be confident of returning to winning ways on Sunday as they have already beaten Columbus Crew this term, securing a 3-1 victory on home soil in May.
Team News
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Columbus Crew quintet Josh Williams (ankle), Milos Degenek (Achilles), Will Sands (knee) Gustavo Vallecilla (muscle) and Luis Diaz (back) all remain sidelined with injuries, while USA's Aidan Morris and Canada's Jacen Russell-Rowe are away on international duty at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
However, the visitors could be boosted by the return of first-choice goalkeeper Eloy Room and key playmaker Lucas Zelarayan, who have concluded their international spells with Curacao and Armenia respectively and may be involved on Sunday.
Club-record signing Cucho Hernandez has contributed with three goals and four assists in his last eight matches and the Colombian is expected to continue in attack alongside Christian Ramirez and either Zelarayan or Alexandru Matan.
As for Nashville, Nick DePuy and Lukas MacNaughton are sidelined with respective Achillies and groin injuries, while Panama's Anibal Godoy and Haiti's Fafa Picault are both away on international duty at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
After winning the CONCACAF Nations League with USA on Monday, Walker Zimmerman featured as a second-half substitute in the loss to Montreal on Thursday and the centre-back will be pushing to start alongside Jack Maher against Columbus Crew.
Last year's MVP Hany Mukhtar, who has contributed with 13 goals and six assists in 19 MLS games so far this season, is set to continue in attack alongside Jacob Shaffelburg, who is hoping to end his nine-game goal drought on Sunday.
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Room; Zawadzki, Moreira, Amundsen; Farsi, Zawadzki, Nagbe, Yeboah; Matan, Ramirez; Hernandez
Nashville SC possible starting lineup:
Willis; Moore, Zimmerman, Maher, Lovitz; McCarthy; Muyl, Gregus, Davis; Mukhtar, Shaffelburg
We say: Columbus Crew 1-2 Nashville SC
Columbus Crew have won each of their last three MLS home games, scoring nine goals in the process, and they will be hoping to take advantage of Nashville's minor wobble last time out.
However, the visitors will have belief in their abilities to bounce back having won their last two meetings with the Crew, and the fine form of star man Mukhtar could help them come out on top in Ohio.
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Top tip
Oliver Thomas
