Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution: A Deep Dive into the MLS Matchup
The Columbus Crew and the New England Revolution are set to face off in a highly anticipated MLS match on October 13, 2024. This encounter promises to be an exciting clash of two teams with different strengths and strategies. In this article, we will delve into the details of both teams, their recent performances, and what to expect from this match.
1. Team Overview
The Columbus Crew, currently second in the Eastern Conference with 60 points from 32 games, is looking to build momentum towards another potential MLS Cup run. Led by coach Wilfried Nancy, the team has shown resilience and determination in their recent matches. One of their key players, Cucho Hernandez, has been called up to the Colombia national team and will be absent for this match. However, Diego Rossi is expected to step up in his absence with 12 goals under his belt this season.
On the other hand, the New England Revolution is struggling to find consistency. With only 31 points from 32 games, they are far from securing a playoff spot. The team will be without several key players due to international commitments and injuries, including 2021 MLS MVP Carles Gil, who has sustained a season-ending hamstring injury.
Despite these challenges, New England's striker Giacomo Vrioni is close to achieving his first double-digit goal MLS campaign and will be looking to make an impact in this match.
1.1 Columbus Crew Lineup
The Columbus Crew's lineup for this match includes:
- **Goalkeeper**: Abraham Romero
- **Defenders**: Rudy Camacho, Malte Amundsen, Yevhen Cheberko
- **Midfielders**: Darlington Nagbe, Alexandru Matan
- **Forwards**: DeJuan Jones, Maximilian Arfsten, Diego Rossi, Aziel Jackson, Dylan Chambost
The team also has a strong bench with players like Christian Ramrez, Derrick Jones, Marcelo Herrera, Yaw Yeboah, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Stanislav Lapkes, and Thomas McNamara ready to step in if needed.
For more detailed information on the Columbus Crew's lineup and recent performances, you can visit this Reddit thread maintained by MLS_Reddit_Bot.
1.2 New England Revolution Lineup
The New England Revolution's lineup for this match includes:
- **Goalkeeper**: Aljaz Ivacic
- **Defenders**: Dave Romney, Tim Parker, William Sands
- **Midfielders**: Brandon Bye, Ian Harkes, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Matt Polster
- **Forwards**: Giacomo Vrioni, Dylan Borrero, Luca Langoni
The team also has several substitutes who could make an impact if called upon during the game.
For more detailed information on the New England Revolution's lineup and recent performances, you can visit this scouting report by Massive Report.
2. Recent Performances
Both teams have had their share of ups and downs in recent matches.
The Columbus Crew has been on a roll lately, defeating Philadelphia 3-2 last weekend to set a new club points record. This victory has given them momentum heading into this crucial match against New England.
On the other hand, New England has been struggling to find consistency. They won only one of their last eight matches and are far from securing a playoff spot. Their slide has resulted in the end of their already remote playoff hopes.
For more detailed analysis of both teams' recent performances, you can visit ESPN's pregame analysis.
3. Key Players to Watch
Several key players from both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this match.
For Columbus Crew:
- **Diego Rossi**: With Cucho Hernandez out due to international duty, Diego Rossi is expected to step up with his 12 goals this season.
- **Darlington Nagbe**: As one of the midfielders for Columbus Crew, Nagbe's performance will be crucial in controlling the midfield and creating scoring opportunities.
For New England Revolution:
- **Giacomo Vrioni**: Vrioni is close to achieving his first double-digit goal MLS campaign and will be looking to make an impact in this match.
- **Ian Harkes**: As one of the midfielders for New England Revolution, Harkes' performance will be crucial in creating scoring opportunities and controlling the midfield.
For more detailed information on these players and their recent performances, you can visit ESPN's pregame analysis.
4. Match Predictions
Given the current form of both teams, it is difficult to predict a clear winner. However, Columbus Crew's recent momentum and strong lineup could give them an edge over New England Revolution.
ESPN's pregame analysis suggests that Columbus Crew might lean more heavily on Diego Rossi in Hernandez's absence. This could potentially make a significant difference in their attacking strategy.
New England Revolution will need to rely on their remaining players and hope that Giacomo Vrioni can find his form again to make an impact in this match.
For more detailed predictions and analysis, you can visit ESPN's pregame preview.
In conclusion, the Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution match promises to be an exciting encounter with both teams having different strengths and strategies. The absence of key players for both teams will undoubtedly affect their performances, but it also presents opportunities for other players to step up and make an impact.
The match is scheduled to take place at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, on October 13, 2024, at 7:30 PM EDT. Fans can follow the live coverage on ESPN for updates, highlights, and live scores.
For more information about this match and related news items, you can visit Direct Post.