Wilfried Nancy commended his Columbus Crew players for their commitment to the cause after a hectic schedule since their Leagues Cup victory, continuing with the visit of the Seattle Sounders in the MLS this weekend.

Since beating Los Angeles FC in the final at the end of last month, the Crew returned to league action with back-to-back wins, the latest of which came in dramatic fashion against New York City FC.

Derrick Jones and Jacen Russell-Rowe struck twice in injury time to seal a 4-2 win on home soil, keeping them within touching distance of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference table.

And while head coach Nancy was not overly satisfied with his side’s most recent display, he acknowledged the physical impact has taken its toll on his players.

“This is another way to win. I'm really proud of that,” Nancy said. “This is what I told my players, I said, ‘Yes, I was frustrated a bit by the fact that we didn't control the game the way we wanted to do it, but we found ways to score goals.’

“Knowing that this is our seventh game in 21 days, I cannot be frustrated. This is impossible for me. I have to respect what they did.

“Yes, it's been a long time that we haven't had the possession [over the opponent]. In first half, they had the possession for 56 or 57 percent. We suffered with that, but again, we were able to go back and to be together and to be clinical. This is what we did.”

Seattle, meanwhile, lost to Portland Timbers last time out, three days after being knocked out of the US Open Cup at the semi-final stage by LAFC.

The Sounders remain on course to reach the playoffs this season, currently occupying eighth place in the Western Conference table, six points ahead of Austin FC, down in 10th.

Head coach Brian Schmetzer believes his squad’s latest setback was part of their journey this campaign and is looking forward to seeing his players bounce back against the Leagues Cup winners.

“We have got seven games left and that is life,” Schmetzer started. “When there is adversity, you are going to have to get up and pick yourself back up.

“We have a tough road trip in Columbus, then we have three home games. Then we have more road games, and we end with Portland at the end of the year.

“There is still everything to play for.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi

Rossi has 49 goals and 25 assists in regular-season MLS play after recording one of each on Saturday against NYCFC.

Since his MLS debut in 2019, only six players have totalled at least 50 goals and 25 assists in regular season play.

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak

Rusnak created six chances during Seattle’s defeat to Portland last time out, the most by any Sounders player in a regular season match in over three years.

The last player to achieve that total was Joao Paulo against Atlanta United in May 2021.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

The Crew have lost only one of their last 38 home matches in all competitions (W26 D11) dating back to May 2023. 17 of those wins in that time have been by a margin of at least two goals.

However, the Sounders have won five of their eight regular season visits to Columbus (D1 L2). Seattle (.625) has the highest road winning percentage of any MLS team that has played at Columbus eight or more times.

But they suffered consecutive defeats in all competitions for the first time since April last time out. It’s been over two years since the Sounders lost three straight games in all competitions (July 2022).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 64.1%

Draw – 19.1%

Seattle Sounders – 16.7%

Cucho Hernandez dedicated Columbus Crew's dramatic last-gasp victory over New York City FC to the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau.

The Crew struck twice in stoppage time to seal a 4-2 triumph and extend their winning streak across all competitions to eight matches.

Despite cancelling out Alonso Martinez's early strike through Diego Rossi and Maximilian Arfsten, Columbus were pegged back in the 86th minute by Mounsef Bakrar.

However, the hosts were not to be denied at Lower.com Field as DeJuan Jones and Jacen Russell-Rowe snatched victory in stoppage time, while Julian Fernandez was sent off for the visitors.

Striker Hernandez took to X to pay tribute to Gaudreau, who plied his trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, after the seven-time All-Star and his younger brother Matthew were killed in a bicycling accident in Philadelphia on Thursday.

"We would like to dedicate this victory to Johnny and his brother Matthew," he posted. "Our condolences to his family at this difficult time. May they rest in peace."

Nick Cushing said his New York City players must use the pain from recent results to progress as a team when they head to the Lower.com Field to face Columbus Crew this weekend.

The Pigeons returned from an impressive Leagues Cup display with a 2-2 draw against Chicago Fire but were left disappointed with the result after squandering a two-goal lead to share the spoils thanks to Brian Gutierrez’s late penalty.

NYCFC are now without a win in the MLS in their last five fixtures, with Cushing describing the mood in the dressing room as “flat” following their latest setback.

Despite their run of form, Cushing’s side sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings, and he is looking for his team to show character during the difficulties they are experiencing.

“In the good moments you realise you are making progress, and you are maturing and learning in that side of the game,” Cushing said.

“In the side of the game we are strong we are building the play and pressing the game, the other side of the game that experience gives you and going through those moments gives you.

“Progress is really difficult in the moment, but we have to make sure this isn’t every four weeks. We have to take the pain and I have said this before that tough times make top teams.”

Columbus returned to MLS action in midweek after their Leagues Cup success and continued their winning momentum with a 1-0 win over Philadelphia Union, a team they beat in the semi-finals on their way to the title.

They ended an almost nine-year losing streak at Subaru Park, with substitute Yaw Yeboah coming off the bench to strike the decisive blow in the 75th minute.

The Crew moved to within two points of second-placed Cincinnati with the victory and have the comfort of two games in hand, but head coach Wilfried Nancy has a difficult task in navigating their hectic fixture schedule.

Only Malte Amundsen and Sean Zawadzki kept their place from their Leagues Cup triumph over LAFC, with Nancy acknowledging the fighting spirit of his players, with special praise for Yeboah’s patience this campaign.

"They are human beings," Nancy said. "We cannot minimise the fatigue of the body and of the brain. They were exhausted, simple as that.

"What a game. This is a winning team, but the fact that everybody was involved, and we were able to start with a few guys and, after that, to finish with other guys, and they kept the level great (though) everybody was tired.

"To be a player, it's a beautiful job, but it's not easy. Sometimes you play, sometimes you don't play. But the idea was to be honest with him and to tell him the situation. When the moment would come, I knew that he was able to help us win the game."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

Cucho Hernandez has found a place he can call home at the Lower.com Field, and his comfort on home soil has been replicated in his sensational contributions up front.

He has been involved in 20 goals in 17 home matches in all competitions in 2024 (14 goals and six assists), totalling 14 goal involvements in his eight matches at Lower.com Field since the beginning of June (nine goals and five assists).

NYCFC – Alonso Martinez

Alonso Martinez was on target in NYCFC’s last match against Chicago Fire, scoring twice in the same match for the third time this season.

Only Spanish great David Villa and Valentin Castellanos (both three times) have recorded more multi-goal games in a single campaign in club history.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus are unbeaten in nine straight home matches against NYCFC in all competitions (W6 D3 including a penalty shoot-out win in this year’s Leagues Cup quarter-final). The Pigeons' only win in 13 visits to Columbus was a 3-2 victory in April 2017.

The Crew have lost only one of its last 37 home matches in all competitions (W25 D11) dating back to May 2023. They have won seven of their last nine matches at Lower.com Field, culminating in their Leagues Cup Final win over Los Angeles FC on Sunday.

NYCFC conceded in the 78th and 94th minute in their draw with Chicago Fire last time out, marking the first time in club history that they have failed to win a match that they led by multiple goals in the 75th minute or later (previous W85 D0 L0).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 64.5%

Draw – 19%

NYCFC – 16.5%

Leagues Cup champions the Columbus Crew made a winning return to MLS as they beat the Philadelphia Union 1-0.

The Crew beat Philadelphia 3-1 last week in the Leagues Cup semi-finals, before going on to defeat Los Angeles FC in the final.

And the reigning MLS Cup winners continued their excellent form in Wednesday's rearranged contest against the Union.

Substitute Yaw Yeboah grabbed the decisive goal, heading home from Max Arfsten's delivery in the 75th minute.

The Union had hit the woodwork twice in the first half, with Patrick Schulte tipping Tai Baribo's close-range attempt onto the post before Quinn Sullivan struck the crossbar.

Columbus are third in the Eastern Conference, though have two games in hand on the teams around them, while the Union sit 10th.

Data Debrief: Union's winning streak snapped

Wednesday's defeat marked the Union's first home loss to the Crew in MLS in the space of nine games, with Philadelphia having won seven and drawn one of the previous eight such meetings.

Philadelphia returned to form in MLS before the Leagues Cup break, winning two games, though they have won only three of their last 20 MLS games.

Cucho Hernandez insisted that Columbus Crew's Leagues Cup triumph is now in the past as they return to MLS action to face Philadelphia Union in midweek. 

Hernandez, who scored twice in their 3-1 win over LAFC in the final, was named the tournament's MVP for his impressive displays throughout the competition. 

The Colombian registered seven goal involvements (four goals and three assists) during the Crew's run to the final, including a strike against the Union in the semi-finals.

But sitting third in the Eastern Conference table, five points behind Cincinnati with three games in hand, Hernandez said the mentality of the team has already switched.

“We are so proud of doing this,” Hernandez said on his sides Leagues Cup win. “We work every day to do this. It’s not lucky; it’s work.

"We are always thinking about what’s coming [next]. That’s the mentality of this team.

“Now, we enjoy ourselves. Of course, we deserve it. But tomorrow we have MLS, and that’s the mentality.”

Philadelphia, meanwhile, will be aiming to exact revenge on their Leagues Cup foes as they look to mount a push for the playoffs in the final stretch of fixtures.

The Union were beaten 3-1 by Columbus in the semi-finals of the tournament and lost on penalties to Colorado Rapids in the third-place match. 

Ahead of the Leagues Cup, Jim Curtin's side had won consecutive MLS games, propelling them into the playoff picture and currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference table, a point behind Atlanta United with a game in hand.

And the Philadelphia head coach said his players acknowledged the task ahead of them, emphasising the importance of taking every opportunity coming their way. 

"The players are looking forward to returning to league play," Curtin said. "We recognise now we are not where we want to be in the standings this year. 

"We have an opportunity to maximise the amount of points we take down the stretch and make things right and find a way to get into the playoffs. 

"It's a difficult test for sure, it's not a lot of rest, but we are on the same amount of rest as Columbus, so we have to have a good reaction in our building."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Philadelphia Union – Daniel Gazdag

Daniel Gazdag scored a hat-trick in the Union’s last regular-season match, taking the Hungarian's tally to 14 goals in 21 MLS appearances.

It was Gazdag’s third career MLS treble, surpassing Julian Carranza (two) for the most in team's history.

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

Hernandez will be hopeful of continuing his electric Leagues Cup form upon his return to league action. He has recorded 60 goal contributions (38 goals and 22 assists) in 61 career regular-season MLS matches.

Since the beginning of June, the Colombian has been involved in 16 goals (nine goals and seven assists) in nine league matches.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Columbus suffered a 2-1 defeat at Atlanta United in the club’s final regular-season match before the Leagues Cup break. The Crew haven’t lost consecutive regular-season matches in over a year, since defeats at Cincinnati and Nashville in May 2023.

Philadelphia have won their last two league matches before the Leagues Cup break after a run of 10 MLS games without a win (D4 L6). In fact, the Union had won just one of its previous 17 regular-season encounters (D5 L11) before winning the last two.

The Union are unbeaten in eight straight home fixtures against the Crew (W7 D1) including winning the last five in a row. Only one team in the last 20 years has won six straight regular-season home matches against Columbus – Orlando City (six) from 2018-23.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Philadelphia Union – 35.5%

Draw – 26.1%

Columbus Crew – 38.5%

Cucho Hernandez is proud to have helped Columbus Crew create history as they beat Los Angeles FC 3-1 to win the Leagues Cup for the first time.

Cucho opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time with a towering header past Hugo Lloris before Olivier Giroud netted his first goal for LAFC in the 57th minute.

When the game looked to be heading to penalties, Cucho stepped up again in stoppage time, curling a stunning effort in from the left wing before setting up Jacen Russell-Rowe for their third two minutes later.

Cucho, who scored four goals in the last three games on Columbus' run to the title, was delighted to play such a big role in their success.

"No words about that, no words. I'm so happy for making history here," Cucho said. "I'm so happy for my family, for the fans – and just enjoy.

"Our mentality is way better than other teams. This is not our first comeback. We also did it against Inter Miami."

It is the second title the Crew have won in the last two years, also beating LAFC to the MLS Cup last season.

Wilfried Nancy has led the team through both, and heaped praise on his star man's ability to dictate the game.

"He showed who he is in terms of: he can place the ball, he can shoot – but the rage that he has to score?" Nancy said.

"So after that, yeah, he provoked things for the other goals, but this is who he is.

"Behind the scenes, we try to help him and to give him tools to get more consistent and to get better, because he wants to be better. So, this is a reward for him, and I’m happy for him."

Los Angeles FC will do battle with the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final in what will be a rematch of their 2023 MLS Cup encounter. 

In that fixture, the Crew emerged victorious over LAFC, with both sides meeting at the Lower.com Field once again to decide who takes this year's crown. 

LAFC cruised into the showpiece match with a commanding 4-0 triumph over the Colorado Rapids at the BMO Stadium. 

Steve Cherundolo's side dominated proceedings in the first half and were rewarded before the interval with two quickfire goals from Mateusz Bogusz and Kei Kamara. 

Bogusz rounded off a fine team move with a curled effort from outside the area, with Kamara finishing beyond Zack Steffen after being picked out by Ryan Hollingshead.

The victory was all but confirmed in some style as Denis Bouanga ran the length of the pitch, ending with a left-footed strike low into the bottom corner. 

Lewis O'Brien added further gloss to an impressive display in the 75th minute, coming off the bench to mark his second appearance for the club with his first goal. 

Earlier in the day, the Crew confirmed their place in Sunday's final following a 3-1 victory over Philadelphia Union. 

The hosts took the lead in the 12th minute when Diego Rossi found himself in the right place at the right time to head home as he followed up Cucho Hernandez's shot from distance.

Daniel Gazdag levelled for the Union just after the half-hour mark, taking advantage of the Crew trying to play out of the back before finishing beyond Patrick Schulte. 

But Rossi, who is the Leagues Cup's leading scorer, restored his side's advantage before the break after being picked out by an exquisite chip from Christian Ramirez. 

Wilfried Nancy's side confirmed the victory eight minutes after the interval as Hernandez got his goal, seeing his initial headed effort saved, only to follow up the rebound.

Reggae Boyz captain and goalkeeper Andre Blake produced two stunning saves to assist Philadelphia Union to a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Liga MX side Mazatlan in the 2024 Leagues Cup quarterfinals on Saturday.

Blake’s heroics were required after Mikael Uhre’s late first-half goal was cancelled out by Alonso Escoboza just shy of the hour mark, as the teams played out a 1-1 stalemate in regulation and extra-time.

The 33-year-old Blake, who won the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup Golden Glove, showed his class with two diving saves in the shootout to send Philadelphia Union to the semi-finals.

Interestingly, the other semi-finalists—Columbus Crew, Los Angeles FC, and Colorado Rapids—are also Major League Soccer (MLS) outfits, and with the top three Leagues Cup finishers guaranteed a spot in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, it means that all three qualifiers will be United States-based MLS teams.

Columbus Crew, a 2024 Champions Cup finalist, moved closer to a Champions Cup return as they too registered a close 4-3 penalty shootout win over New York City FC.

Both teams played out a 1-1 stalemate as Alonso Martinez gave New York FC a first minute lead, which was cancelled out by Cucho Hernandez. Like Blake, Columbus Crew’s custodian Patrick Schulte also produced a stop in the shootout to help secure his team’s passage.

Elsewhere, 2020 and 2023 Champions Cup finalists Los Angeles FC powered their way into the final four with a commanding 3-0 victory over the 2022 Champions Cup winners Seattle Sounders. Ryan Hollingshead and Kei Kamara logged first-half goals, before Denis Bouanga completed the win with an early second-half strike.

Meanwhile, there were plenty of thrills in the final match of the evening as Colorado Rapids slipped past seven-time Concacaf champions Club America of Mexico 9-8 on sudden-death penalties after they battled out a scoreless encounter.

The Liga MX giants were poised to win the shootout on their fifth kick, but Rapids’ goaltender Zack Steffen denied Igor Lichnovsky. The two teams then converted their next four kicks each, before Steffen scored his kick from the 12-yard spot, while his counterpart Luis Malagon hit wide and handed Colorado Rapids the victory.

The Columbus Crew came from two goals down to put an end to Inter Miami's Leagues Cup defence, winning 3-2 at the Lower.com Field on Wednesday. 

Matias Rojas and Diego Gomez had given the visitors a comfortable lead just beyond the hour-mark, only for Christian Ramirez's strike to spark an unlikely turnaround. 

Diego Rossi netted twice in 11 second half minutes to confirm the win as Wilfried Nancy's side advanced to the quarter-finals where they will face New York City FC. 

Despite still being without Lionel Messi, Miami started brightly and were rewarded for their fast start when Rojas headed past Nicholas Hagen in the 10th minute. 

Columbus finished the opening 45 the better side, but found themselves two goals down after the break as Gomez curled home their second following Luis Suarez's pass. 

But Nancy's side would respond five minutes later as Max Arfsten's teasing delivery was powerfully headed home by Ramirez inside the penalty area.

The hosts found themselves level moments later when Cucho Hernandez's cross to the back post picked out Rossi to finish beyond Drake Callender. 

Rossi grabbed his 15th goal of the season 10 minutes from time, finishing from a tight angle following a clever pass by Mohamed Farsi to confirm the triumph. 

"Today, even after a defeat, we will continue trying to achieve some title in the local league, which is what remains," Miami head coach Gerardo Martino said. 

"But I cannot accept that all this is measured based on whether you won or lost, I accept it because they are the rules of the game."

Data Debrief: Rossi brace continues Crew's sensational home form

Columbus continued their fine home form under Nancy and are now unbeaten in their last seven games on home soil in all competitions (W6 D1). 

Rossi was the standout for the Crew, contributing 0.88 expected goals (xG) to Columbus' 1.79 total at the conclusion of the thrilling encounter. 

Miami failed to make their opportunities in front of goal count, only managing three shots on target from the 12 they attempted while also missing five big chances. 

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca knows there are plenty of improvements for his team to make after the Blues were thrashed 4-1 by Celtic.

Fresh from beating Manchester City, Celtic rounded off their tour of the United States in sensational style on Saturday.

Matt O'Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi, Luis Palma and Mikey Johnston put the Bhoys 4-0 up before Christopher Nkunku grabbed a consolation from the penalty spot.

And Maresca, whose team had 10 shots on target and also hit the woodwork twice, conceded there is work to do.

"Off the ball we need to improve things," Maresca said.

"You can see sometimes we confuse when we need to play short and when we need to play a little bit longer but that is part of the process.

"We maintained a high line but when the ball is not under pressure, you need to drop.

"We are still confusing some things on the ball and off the ball. It is normal in this moment when we are trying to do something new."

Chelsea open their Premier League campaign against champions Manchester City on August 18, though the teams first face off in a friendly on August 3.

And City themselves are enduring a difficult pre-season tour so far, having suffered a 3-2 defeat to Milan on Saturday.

Erling Haaland scored again, but Marco Nasti's 78th-minute goal proved decisive for Milan.

City's defeat follows on from a 4-3 loss to Celtic, and Pep Guardiola said: "We were better than the first game.

"It was a step forward - no injuries, minutes in our legs, another test - and now we fly to another game in a few days."

Aston Villa are another Premier League team in action in the United States, and like City and Chelsea, suffered a defeat, going down 4-1 to MLS side Columbus Crew.

On the bright side, Unai Emery was able to welcome back Emiliano Buendia, who missed last season due to injury.

"The best news is his comeback," said Emery. "We are happy with his return and we have to work now with him trying to get the best of him progressively.

"The first 30 minutes he played, really, is fantastic for us and for the team."

West Ham, meanwhile, went down 3-1 to Wolves, with Julen Lopetegui coming unstuck against his former team.

Wilfried Nancy has insisted that his full focus remains with Columbus Crew amid links to the vacant United States managerial position ahead of their meeting with Atlanta United this weekend.

The Crew extended their unbeaten run to six matches in the MLS following their 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC in midweek as they aim to keep pace with the top two in the Eastern Conference.

Nancy’s side sit third in the standings, five points behind FC Cincinnati following their defeat to Chicago Fire last time out, with Inter Miami now at the summit of the table.

Despite their recent form, Nancy is hungry for more success with Columbus, going on to rubbish the rumours linking him with a move to the international stage following Gregg Berhalter’s dismissal last week.

"I don't talk about rumours, simple as that,” Nancy said.  

“Like I said, I am limitless. I want to be limitless, so the idea is to push myself, to challenge myself, but at the moment I'm here. I'm happy here. We'll see in the future."

“I’m really happy because the task that we had was very difficult, knowing the context, knowing the situations.

"But my players found a way to be ourselves and to play the way we wanted to play and to play really good sequences, but also to be disgusting to play against."

Meanwhile, Atlanta halted their three-game pointless run in the league with a draw against New York City FC, despite squandering their two-goal advantage in the second half.

The Five Stripes sit in 12th place in the Eastern Conference table and are among a cluster of teams tightly packed at the wrong end of the division.

Interim head coach Rob Valentino is looking for a much-improved performance from his players, picking out his side’s individual errors that have cost them in recent weeks.

"We were under some pressure, and we tried to make adjustments at half-time about being better and just more brave," said Valentino.

"There were individual errors. So, it is about eliminating those moments."

"We were braver, more direct and playing in there. The goal came right away. The big thing is that we have to find out why we dropped off."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atlanta United – Daniel Rios

While the Five Stripes may have forgotten how to win in the MLS, Daniel Rios has had no such trouble in finding the back of the net, scoring his third goal in his last four matches.

Rios’ strike against NYCFC was clocked at just 21 seconds, the fastest goal in Atlanta’s history, and they will be hoping for another quick start at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

Cucho Hernandez continues to be the attacking spark for the Crew, with his strike against Charlotte FC his 13th of the season, scoring in each of his last three appearances.

Hernandez's goals saw him become the first player in the club's history to record 60 goal contributions over a three-year span, notching 38 goals and 22 assists in that time.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus come into the contest as the hot favourites following their impressive recent run, with their draw against Charlotte meaning they are undefeated in their last six games in the MLS. Their last longer unbeaten streak was from 13th November 2023 to 16th March 2024, a run of eight games.

Hernandez's strike for the Crew was also the 12th consecutive time they have found the back of the net, scoring 34 times during that run. 

Atlanta have failed to win in their last two games against Columbus Crew, but their last triumph against them came back in November 2023, last losing at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium against the Crew in May 2022. 

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atlanta United – 23.7%

Draw – 22.6%

Columbus Crew – 53.7%

Dean Smith is intent on reminding Charlotte FC "how good we could be" as the visitors look to back up an impressive win when they head to Columbus Crew in MLS.

Smith's side humbled Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati with a 3-1 victory last time out, with Ashley Westwood assisting all three goals – a club record.

That eye-catching result marked a perfect response after back-to-back defeats against Inter Miami and Houston Dynamo, leaving Charlotte sixth in the East standings.

The next challenge for visiting head coach Smith is to keep his side honest, and more importantly, consistent.

"I keep talking in our dressing room about how good we could be. And we've got to be consistent," Smith said.

"We've just lost the last two games. I thought we played really well against Inter Miami. Our first half against Houston, we dropped our standards and got beat because of that.

"So we wanted to make sure that our standards were back there. And I thought it was a good follow-up performance to the Inter Miami game."

Westwood was the hero, picking apart the 10-man Cincinnati with ease en route to a headline result against the division leaders.

"We never know when we're beaten, and that's a good thing to have," said former Burnley midfielder Westwood. "We get knocked down, we keep coming back up.

"And it's a real togetherness. All the lads are running for each other. We know how organised we are. Everyone knows what they're doing."

The Crew are third in the same standings after smashing Los Angeles FC 5-1 in their last match – a result that delighted boss Wilfried Nancy.

"Really happy because the task that we had was really difficult, knowing the context and the situations," Nancy said.

"My players found a way to be ourselves and to play the way we wanted to play and to play really good sequences, but also to be disgusting to play against.

"This is something that I like. I'm happy because the level was good. I'm happy."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

Cucho Hernandez was on target in the hammering of LAFC last time out, and will continue leading the line and aiming to extend his remarkable run in front of goal.

The Crew star has scored eight goals in his last seven appearances, with his overall tally for the season at 12 goals in 16 MLS matches.

Charlotte FC – Ashley Westwood

Westwood has become an integral part of Smith's side, leading the way from midfield.

The former Premier League midfielder collected two first-half assists in Cincinnati before adding another after the break, taking his season tally to five in 22 MLS games.

MATCH PREDICTION – COLUMBUS CREW WIN

The Crew are the overwhelming favourites for this one, signified by their high likelihood of victory in Opta's pre-match predictions. That owes to their strong recent form.

Columbus have won their last five matches by a combined 20-2 scoreline, since losing to Inter Miami towards the end of last month.

The hosts will take confidence in knowing they have avoided defeat in their last two home meetings with Charlotte, drawing 1-1 in 2022 before a 4-2 victory last season.

Charlotte do, however, have the chance to inflict an unlikely double on Columbus after triumphing 2-0 in March's reverse fixture.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew win – 61.9%

Draw – 20.2%

Charlotte FC win – 18%

The Columbus Crew ended Los Angeles FC's unbeaten run at the BMO Stadium with a 5-1 victory in a game that saw three red cards in a frenetic ending to proceedings. 

Sergi Palencia was the first player sent off for the hosts, with LAFC's Jesus Murillo and the Crew's Marino Hinestroza also given their marching orders for an altercation just before the final whistle. 

Christian Ramirez opened the scoring in the first half, with Cucho Hernandez and Diego Rossi increasing the visitors' advantage to three by the hour mark. 

Palencia was shown his second yellow card for a pull on substitute Alexandru Matan, with Ramirez notching his second of the game from the resulting free-kick. 

Nathan Ordaz clawed one back for LAFC, but Matan would round off the scoring at the BMO Stadium as he curled an effort beyond Hugo Lloris. 

But following a tackle from Eddie Segura on Hinestroza, a push from Murillo on the Crew attacker resulted in a scuffle, with referee Lukasz Szpala showing two red cards.

"A very poor performance from us tonight, really in all categories, is the only way I would describe it," LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. 

"Columbus were better in every moment of the game tonight and hats off to them, they played a fantastic game and deserved to win. 

"But for us, it is obviously super disappointing for our fans and we don't want to ever present ourselves like that again at home."

LAFC remain top of the Western Conference despite their defeat, but will be without Palencia and Murillo for their top-of-the-table clash with Real Salt Lake next week. 

Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy has praised his side's "humble" attitude ahead of their trip to Los Angeles FC in MLS on Saturday.

The Crew are on a four-match winning streak, scoring 15 goals and keeping three clean sheets during that run.

They sit third in the Eastern Conference, and after a 4-0 victory over Toronto FC last time out, Nancy showed his admiration for their impressive run.

"The fact that we are humble enough to accept that we have to improve all the time, the consequence of that is we are able to do something new and to improve all the time," Nancy said.

"Again, this desire to get better and better depends on what the opposition is going to give us.

"[I'm proudest of] the fact that we don't take anything for granted. That's why we were able to attack well and to defend well. This is the spirit that I really like."

LAFC, meanwhile, sit joint-top of the Western Conference, with Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy also on 43 points.

Their high-flying season has drawn attention, with head coach Steve Cherundolo's name one of those linked to the currently vacant USA national team job.

Cherundolo has brushed aside any concerns that he will be leaving LA though, instead using it to highlight the club's work this season.

"I am LAFC's head coach right now," he said. "That is my job, it's what I do every day. We have training tomorrow and I will be there for it.

"I think it has more to do with LAFC and all that's going on here.

"We're all moving in the same direction. When the group functions well, individuals shine, it's just a well-run organisation, and it's partly my job to make sure we keep going in that direction."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga

Denis Bouanga (one goal) and Mateusz Bogusz (one assist) were each involved in a goal in LAFC's 2-1 win against LA Galaxy last time out, the league-leading 10th time both have contributed to a goal in the same match this season.

Columbus Crew – Diego Rossi

Cucho Hernandez (11 goals, seven assists) and Diego Rossi (seven goals, nine assists) are one of two MLS team-mate duos to each have 7+ goals and 7+ assists in 2024, along with Real Salt Lake's Cristian Arango and Andres Gomez.

MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

LAFC have won six consecutive regular-season home matches, scoring at least three goals in four of those wins. They have only one longer home-winning run in their history – a nine-match streak in 2022.

However, they lost to Columbus when the two last faced each other, as the Crew came out on top with a 2-1 victory in the 2023 MLS Cup Final last December. Prior to that match, LAFC had won all three of their meetings by a combined 7-0.

The Crew are coming off a 4-0 victory over Toronto FC, their second shutout win by at least four goals this season (4-0 over Sporting Kansas City last month). It is the first time Columbus have had multiple such wins in MLS play in a single season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Los Angeles FC – 42.4%

Draw – 26.7%

Columbus Crew – 30.9%

John Herdman insists that Toronto FC’s defeat to Orlando City must be a turning point in their MLS campaign ahead of facing in-form Columbus Crew this weekend.

Toronto had taken an early lead through Derrick Etienne but were compounded to a fifth straight defeat that leaves them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville SC. 

Head coach Herdman acknowledged his side’s poor recent form, and ensured conversations would be had with his players and staff to ensure they return to winning ways sooner, rather than later.

“This has to be a turning point for the club tonight,” Herdman said. “I said that to the players after the game, ‘It has to be the turning point.’

“There's going to be some hard conversations in the next two days starting with all of us looking at ourselves in the mirror for that 20-minute period.

“What happened there? And why is it happening? Why do we fall into that trap game after game after game?”

However, they will have to do so against a Columbus side in a rich vein of form having earned a third straight triumph with their 2-0 win over Nashville last time out.

The Crew currently occupy third place in the Eastern Conference and are one of three sides chasing runaway leaders FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami.

Head coach Wilfried Nancy commended his team’s recent displays and said he intends to do everything possible to keep that feel-good feeling in the camp before welcoming Toronto to the Lower.com Field.

“I'm going to talk about the present moment because it's a fact: They are really good,” Nancy said of his side.

“They are really good. We are going to try to do everything to help them to stay like this because

for me, it's a key point. It's a key point about the way we want to play.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

There is arguably no one better in the MLS right now than Cucho Hernandez as he kept up his impressive recent form for the Crew.

Since returning from injury, the Colombian has registered six goals and four assists in his last five matches, with his most recent coming in their 2-0 win over Nashville as he set up Christian Ramirez to open the scoring at the Lower.com Field.

Toronto FC – Federico Bernardeschi

Federico Bernardeschi continues to be an attacking force for Toronto, and he will be needed on top form if his side are to halt their current five-game winless run.

The Italian has been involved in 14 goals in his last 10 MLS matches (eight goals, six assists), including an assist against Orlando City last time out.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

Columbus are expected to emerge victorious, with Nancy’s side winning 76.7% of Opta’s data-led simulations heading into the encounter.

The Crew have an impressive home record, losing one of their last 30 home matches in all competitions dating back to May 2023 (W20 D9). In that streak, 12 of those victories have been by a margin of two or more goals.

Columbus also boast an impressive record over their opponents and are unbeaten in their last five league matches against Toronto. Before this run, Columbus had won just two of their previous 14 meetings with Toronto dating back to 2016.

Toronto, however, will be out to cause an upset. Their current five-game losing run is the seventh losing streak of five or more matches since the start of the 2021 season.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Columbus Crew – 76.7%

Draw – 13.9%

Toronto FC – 9.4%