Match Preview: Union and Crew’s Winning Streaks Collide in Battle for Eastern Conference Lead
Philadelphia's Defensive Resolve Faces Columbus' Dynamic Attack in a Pivotal Eastern Showdown
Chester — Eleven games into the season, few would have predicted the Philadelphia Union (7-3-1, 22 pts) would be in second place in the Eastern Conference, yet that's exactly where they stand. The same could be said for the Columbus Crew (7-1-3, 24 pts), who lead the conference without Cucho Hernández and without acquiring a direct replacement in the primary transfer market.
The Union are currently on a three-game winning streak, with a 3-1-1 record in their last five games, scoring eight goals and conceding only two while keeping three clean sheets. Meanwhile, the Crew are on a two-game winning streak, with victories over the San Jose Earthquakes and Charlotte FC. They are 4-1-0 in their last five games, scoring 10 goals and conceding six, with no clean sheets during this stretch.
The Union’s current three-game winning streak is their second this season, and through 11 games, they’ve been competitive in every match. Even when chance creation has been lacking, their defense has stepped up significantly. This season, the Union have conceded just 10 goals, tied for the third-fewest in MLS, a stark improvement from last season when they allowed 19 goals through the same number of games. Head coach Bradley Carnell has emphasized consistency and competitiveness as the foundation for success.
“The order of the day is to be competitive and compete in every match and build a platform and a foundation to be successful,” Carnell said ahead of the Columbus Crew match. “I think that's in the process people can clearly see we're in that sort of phase at the moment.” This mindset has clearly resonated, as the Union’s defensive solidity and ability to grind out results have them sitting comfortably in second place.
No Cucho, No Problem For Crew
The Columbus Crew sold superstar Cucho Hernández to La Liga side Real Betis in February, just before the start of the 2025 MLS season. It was a bold move to trade a player who scored 58 goals in 94 appearances over two and a half seasons, and an even bolder one not to sign a direct replacement during MLS’ primary transfer window. While the Crew traded for Dániel Gazdag on April 11, he’s not a like-for-like replacement for Cucho.
Despite the loss, Columbus has thrived offensively, scoring 18 goals in 11 games—tied for fifth-most in MLS. Seven different players have found the net, led by Diego Rossi with seven goals and Jacen Russell-Rowe, who has stepped into Hernández’s role, with five. The Crew’s attack remains dynamic, with their tactical flexibility under head coach Wilfried Nancy posing a unique challenge.
“Good luck,” Carnell said jokingly. “Obviously, it's fun to watch when you're doing the scouting and, they're able to pick up spots between the lines. You have Jacen Russell-Rowe running the line. They're so flexible and variable in their build-up, and any player can be in any position at any time, as long as the structure remains. And that's credit to Wilfred [Nancy] and the job he's done there. And it's fun to watch. And it's a great challenge for us to have because we believe in a certain way, and they believe in a certain way, and that's often the beauty of matchups. So, we're excited to try and frustrate them on the day. We're going to play free and brave.”
Injury Report
The Union played 120 minutes on Wednesday night against Indy Eleven in their Round of 32 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match, which they won 5-4 on penalty kicks. Playing 120 minutes with only five substitutions naturally led to cramping for some players, notably Olwethu Makhanya, Mikael Uhre, and Olivier Mbaizo, with the latter two playing 90 and 81 minutes, respectively. Andre Blake was absent from the matchday squad against Indy Eleven, with Carnell calling it a “management thing” due to a minor injury. Carnell didn’t seem overly concerned post-match but later listed Blake as questionable for the Columbus game. Olivier Mbaizo was also ruled questionable, while Makhanya and Uhre, despite cramping, were cleared to play.
Ian Glavinovich Injury Update
Hearing that Makhanya avoided injury against Indy Eleven was great news, as center back is the Union’s thinnest position. Neil Pierre was injured last week with Union II against Chattanooga FC, and Carnell said he’ll likely miss 4-6 weeks with a knee injury. Ian Glavinovich suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee on April 5 against Orlando City and had surgery on April 8. With two center backs out, the Union have only two healthy center backs on the roster—Makhanya and Jakob Glesnes—with right back Nathan Harriel filling in as needed.
Glavinovich posted on Instagram on May 2 that he was back on the field training, and Bradley Carnell provided an update on his progress.
“He's slowly getting back to on-field movements, linear running,” said Carnell. “So [no] changes of direction or anything, or nothing ball-related yet. So just getting familiar with how it feels. He's been doing a lot of AlterG stuff on the treadmills and what have you. But I think feeling your own body weight on the field, think he's progressing every day. He's still doing really well in terms of his progression.”
Series History (MLS Play Only)
The Union and Columbus Crew have faced off 36 times in league play, with the Union trailing the series 13-17-6. The Union are 11-5-1 at Subaru Park against Columbus and have won four of the last five matches.
The most recent game saw Columbus win 3-2. In an uncharacteristic performance, the Union conceded two set-piece goals, both headers from Cucho Hernández off corner kicks. Columbus scored in the 4th minute, but Nathan Harriel equalized in the 25th. Columbus regained the lead through Mo Farsi in the 41st minute and Hernández in the 76th. Jack McGlynn pulled one back for the Union in the 78th minute, and Dániel Gazdag had a chance to equalize in the 88th minute but sent Kai Wagner’s cross over the bar.
Two current Union players have scored against Columbus: Nathan Harriel (2) and Alejandro Bedoya (1). For Columbus, five current players have scored against the Union: Lassi Lappalainen (3), Darlington Nagbe, Mohamed Farsi, Diego Rossi, and Amar Sejdic (1).
Player Availability Report
Philadelphia Union
Ian Glavinovich - Knee (Out)
Neil Pierre - Knee (Out)
Andre Blake - Knee (Questionable)
Olivier Mbaizo - Knee (Questionable)
Columbus Crew
Rudy Camacho - Thigh (Out)
Andres Herrera - Thigh (Out)
Where to Watch
The match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. EST, May 10.
Video credit: Philadelphia Union