Two members of the Eastern Conference elite cross swords at Lower.com Field as Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire returns on Matchday 21, and it also happens to showcase one of the more drastic stylistic contrasts MLS has to offer (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass, Apple TV+<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n As 2023 MLS Cup champions and Leagues Cup<\/a> 2024 winners and Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a> finalists last season, the Columbus Crew<\/a> are familiar to most observers by now. Weathering the winter departure of Cucho Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> and a raft of injuries, Wilfried Nancy has stuck to his proactive principles and kept the Ohioans playing some of the league\u2019s bravest, most aesthetically pleasing soccer \u2013 enough to leave them fourth in the East (34 points; 9W-3L-7D record).<\/p>\n The Philadelphia Union<\/a>\u2019s rapid return to contender status this year is a great deal more surprising, however. First-year head coach Bradley Carnell has overseen a hugely impressive start to what was widely prognosticated to be a rebuilding phase, guiding Philly to the top of both the East and Supporters\u2019 Shield standings (40 points; 12W-3L-4D record) \u2013 sporting a renewed commitment to the muscular pressing and direct play that\u2019s been their identity since the arrival of sporting director Ernst Tanner.<\/p>\n We’re in for a treat.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Crew slumped through a six-game winless skid in May that raised real questions about their direction. Some home cooking steadied the ship with two straight wins over Vancouver<\/a> and Atlanta<\/a>, and with a win over Philly, the Crew can close the gap on the Union to just three points.<\/p>\n In more general terms, Columbus will know another victory over a legitimate contender \u2013 like their impressive defeat of the Whitecaps<\/a> \u2013 will remind the rest of the league they\u2019re still very much in the mix for the major trophies on offer this year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n As unexpected as their surge to the top of the table has been, the Union know the target will now be on their backs as the season moves towards the stretch run. Based on Carnell\u2019s messaging to date<\/a>, he\u2019ll have his players ready to embrace that and double down on the tenacious, confrontational ethos that makes them such a tough out even with many starters absent.<\/p>\n Knocking off the Crew \u2013 who snatched a dramatic road point with an injury-time equalizer on their visit to Subaru Park last month<\/a> \u2013 would provide further proof of concept and drive home their commitment to hang on to pole position in the Shield race.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The personnel may change, but the fundamentals generally don\u2019t for Nancy. Columbus want to press intelligently to gain possession, then use it to asphyxiate their adversaries with constant ball circulation and long stretches of buildup play punctuated by quick combos in and around the penalty box. The Frenchman\u2019s willingness to trust a deep cast of characters to execute all that has been a highlight of their rise since his arrival two and a half years ago.<\/p>\n Conversely, the Union\u2019s approach probably won\u2019t change much regardless of their lineup, either. Philly will be happy to concede the ball to the Crew, then try to exploit their confidence by springing traps to create turnovers and quick transition opportunities. They\u2019ll also fancy their chances of catching their hosts napping on set pieces, where Columbus have often been vulnerable.<\/p>\n In the end, this game should hinge on who\u2019s cleaner and more ruthless when chances do present themselves.<\/p>\n While Rossi is their leading scorer at this point, many in Columbus would contend that elevated performances from Jacen Russell-Rowe<\/a> are nearly as crucial to regaining their best level in the final third, and the Canadian No. 9 should have momentum after bagging a brace at midweek.<\/p>\n Philly\u2019s Israeli striker and MLS All-Star Tai Baribo<\/a>, scorer of 13 goals this year, finally made his way out of his homeland this week, yet is expected to miss this one due to a calf injury. That likely extends the goals-by-committee approach that kept the Union on course in his absence, starting with Damiani \u2013 but also with room for the likes of Markus Anderson<\/a> to seize the moment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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