Fresh off the back of securing their spot in the semi-finals of the US Open Cup, Los Angeles FC go head to head with Columbus Crew at the BMO Stadium on Saturday.
This will be the first meeting between the sides since their clash in the 2023 playoff final back in December, when the Crew secured a 2-1 victory courtesy of first-half goals from Cucho Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah.
Match preview
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Los Angeles FC turned in another dominant team display on Wednesday evening when they cruised to a 3-1 victory over USL Championship side New Mexico United in the quarter-finals of the US Open Cup.
In an action-packed contest at the BMO Stadium, Timothy Tillman, David Martinez and Mateusz Bogusz all found the back of the net to hand the hosts a comfortable victory and send them through to the semi-finals.
The win over New Mexico United will see Los Angeles make a second-ever appearance in the US Open Cup semi-finals, with the first coming in their inaugural season back in 2018, when they were beaten on penalties by eventual champion Houston Dynamo.
This was in keeping with their string of outstanding performances in MLS, where they are unbeaten in each of their last 10 matches, picking up nine wins and one draw while scoring 24 goals and keeping six clean sheets in that time.
Los Angeles' last league defeat came back on May 5, when they were beaten 3-1 by San Jose Earthquakes, with goals from Rodrigues, Amahl Pellegrino and a 59th-minute own goal from Denis Bouanga inspiring the Quakes to a stunning victory.
With Thursday's win, Steven Cherundolo's men have now won each of their most recent four games and are unbeaten in 13 matches across all competitions — a club-record run.
Los Angeles have picked up 13 wins and four draws in their 21 MLS matches to collect 43 points and sit top of the Western Conference table, level on points with Real Salt Lake and rivals Los Angeles Galaxy, albeit with one game in hand.
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Over in Ohio, Columbus Crew continue their surge to the top of the Western Conference standings as they stormed to a 4-0 victory over Toronto United last weekend.
In a one-sided affair at the Lower.com Field, Hernandez, Christian Ramirez, Mohamed Farsi and Diego Rossi all found the back of the net to condemn Toronto FC to their 13th league defeat of the campaign.
The Crew have now won four games on the bounce, scoring a staggering 17 goals and keeping three clean sheets, and have picked up eight wins in their nine league games since mid-May, with a 2-1 loss at Inter Miami on June 20 being the exception.
This fine run of results has seen Wilfried Nancy's men rise into fourth position in the Western Conference table, level on 21 points with fifth-placed Inter Miami, but they could move within one point of first-placed New York City FC with a win this weekend.
Columbus Crew will need to be at their best as they visit the BMO Stadium, where Los Angeles are unbeaten across all competitions this season, claiming 12 wins and one draw in their 13 matches so far — the Black and Gold's last home loss came in October 2023, when they were beaten 1-0 by Real Salt Lake.
Team News
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Los Angeles FC will have to cope without 22-year-old forward Cristian Olivera, who is currently away with the Uruguay national team at the ongoing Copa America.
USA international Tillman will also play no part in Saturday's game due to suspension after crossing the yellow card threshold with his booking in the league clash against Los Angeles Galaxy on July 5.
On the injury front, the Black and Gold will take to the pitch without the services of Aaron Long and Italian defender Lorenzo Dellavalle, who have been sidelined through leg and knee injuries respectively.
Meanwhile, Columbus Crew have to cope without veteran goalkeeper Evan Bush once again as the 38-year-old continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an arm injury in April.
Colombian striker Hernandez has been on song for the Crew this season and the 25-year-old, who boasts 11 goals and six assists in 15 league games, will be one to keep an eye on.
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Cheberko, Farsi; Arfsten, Matan, Nagbe; Ramirez, Rossi, Hernandez
Columbus Crew possible starting lineup:
Schulte; Moreira, Camacho, Cheberko; Farsi, Arfsten, Matan, Nagbe; Ramirez, Rossi, Hernandez
We say: Los Angeles FC 3-1 Columbus Crew
While Columbus Crew will be looking to continue where they left off against Toronto, they will have to be at their best against an in-form Los Angeles side who have been tough to crack in recent weeks. The Black and Gold have made their June turf a fortress this season and we see them securing all three points this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
