National Writer: Charles Boehm<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n What\u2019s in the offing when Eastern Conference frontrunners the Columbus Crew<\/a> visit their closest pursuers, the Philadelphia Union<\/a>, in one of Matchday 12\u2019s biggest fixtures on Saturday night (7:30 pm ET | Apple TV – MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+<\/a>)?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWe expect ‘Philly style,’\u201d deadpanned Crew coach Wilfried Nancy in Wednesday’s press conference.<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t referencing a cheesesteak or hoagie order, but the muscular high pressing, direct transitions and combative edge that have become central to the Union\u2019s ethos, a rugged philosophy dialed up another notch or two in intensity during 2025 by first-year boss Bradley Carnell.<\/p>\n \u201cThey win games, and they win the way they want to win,\u201d added Nancy. \u201cIt means that they don’t need the ball. They just need to do the offensive transitions that they do well. Aggressive team.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Philly might just be the league\u2019s furthest stylistic opposite from his own meticulous, daringly aggressive, possession-friendly system, which has reaped two trophies in two-plus seasons in Ohio. Among many other data points: The Crew’s pass completion rate (88.3%) is third-best in MLS and they rank even higher in their percentage of ball possession; Philly’s completion rate is second-lowest at 77.5% and their possession numbers are on similar levels.<\/p>\n This is by choice. The DOOP squad have been ruthless and occasionally downright devastating going forward, indeed more prolific than pass-happy Columbus in the final third, their 21 goals tied for third-most in the league. Clinical striker Tai Baribo<\/a> (7g\/0a) co-leads the Golden Boot presented by Audi race, one tally ahead of the Crew\u2019s Uruguayan spark Diego Rossi<\/a> (6g\/1a). It\u2019s two different flavors of expression, both capable of beauty, as subjective as that term may be.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can see a lot of intricate, fluid play progressing,\u201d Carnell told MLSsoccer.com of his productive attack in March, flashing his comfort with analytics data as signposts of progress. \u201cMaybe you guys would think of, I don’t know, other teams out there who play possession-style soccer, but to be third-best in the league at deep progressions and final-third entries, that for me speaks volumes about the freedom and the fluidity we have with that front group right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Philly\u2019s characteristic work rate and physicality amplify their game model, often giving Subaru Park a demolition derby vibe, whereas the Crew\u2019s long buildups and patterns of play tend to lend a more symphonic character to Lower.com Field.<\/p>\n Nancy all but admitted the Union will carve open his defense at least a few times, hinting that his team intends to pass their way through the press and create a volume of chances at the other end.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are younger also, so they run more!\u201d wisecracked Nancy. \u201cThis desire to aggress the opposition, they do it well \u2026 When we face a team with a style of play like that, they\u2019re going to get chances, it\u2019s normal, because they like to create chaotic situations. So we have to be good defensively, and also to match their intensity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 9, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n There appears to be mutual respect, more overlap than it might seem when it comes to methodology, and perhaps also a kinship in these sides\u2019 insistence on imposing their preferred tempo on the opposition at all costs, as diametrical as they may be.<\/p>\n \u201cWe take interest in really good playing teams, and they\u2019re probably one of the best, if not the best, playing team in the league right now,\u201d said Carnell this week. \u201cSo I have a huge respect for Wilfred and what he’s done there.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir counterpressing is really good. I think they control spaces that they want to,\u201d added the South African, who considers last week\u2019s trip to Nancy\u2019s former club CF Montr\u00e9al<\/a>, a 2-1 win<\/a>, \u201ca good sort of precursor\u201d for this test. \u201c[Columbus] are very vertical, they’re very dynamic, they can hurt you in many ways. And they\u2019re also very progressive and adventurous.\u201d<\/p>\n Carnell was also quick to note their shared commitment to player development. Both clubs can point to academy products like emerging Union fullback Frankie Westfield<\/a> and his fellow homegrown Quinn Sullivan<\/a>, who, with 1g\/6a in the season’s first 11 matches, is blossoming into one of MLS’s elite chance creators. Or the \u2018project\u2019 players polished in MLS NEXT Pro<\/a> that litter the Crew\u2019s lineups: Mo Farsi<\/a>, Jacen Russell-Rowe<\/a>, Max Arfsten<\/a>, among others.<\/p>\n \u201cHe believes in similar things to what we believe in terms of development, and progressing talents through the ranks and what have you,\u201d said Carnell of Nancy. \u201cHe’s done a great job at that \u2026 Massive respect for them. I’m going to enjoy the prospect of coming up against Wilfried again.\u201d<\/p>\n That combination of contrasts and commonalities may add both light and heat to this weekend\u2019s clash.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what I like about football,\u201d said Nancy. \u201cBecause Philly and us, we have a good momentum for the moment \u2013 we will see in the future \u2013 but we don’t play the same way, I would say. We don’t have the same style of play, and both work. So that\u2019s why for me this is amazing, to see two different styles of play like that.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea is to be ourselves; to match the intensity is really important, and after that to be good also on set pieces, because they are really good, and also to control their offensive transitions.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n If you look up the definition of a team goal, this one might pop up ????#DOOP<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7qsISjbaiw<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) May 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n It can\u2019t be totally coincidental that the Crew looked to the Union for their showcase primary transfer window reinforcement, acquiring attacking midfielder D\u00e1niel Gazdag<\/a> in a cash-for-player trade<\/a> for $4 million up front and $500,000 in conditional incentives last month. The Hungarian international signed a contract extension<\/a> this week and will be available for selection against his former team after sitting out last week\u2019s win over Charlotte FC<\/a> with a knock.<\/p>\n He\u2019ll be up for the occasion.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is going to be the first time that I’m playing there as an opponent, so obviously it’s a little bit more than just a game,\u201d said Gazdag on Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have their own idea about the game, about how they’re trying to play every weekend. So that’s what we expect: they will play with intensity, they will try to press us high, but we will be ready for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Philadelphia Union (@PhilaUnion) April 11, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/main><\/p>\n<\/div>\nStyles collide<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
Eastern Conference elites<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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A club legend returns<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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