D.C. United v Columbus Crew: Campeones Cup final defeat won’t stop us, insists Nancy

Wilfried Nancy insists that Columbus Crew’s Campeones Cup final defeat in midweek will not deter his side from achieving their goals in the MLS playoffs this season.

The Crew were edged out on penalties by Mexican side Club America after Malte Amundsen’s opener was cancelled out by Victor Davila before losing 5-4 in the shootout.

But attention now turns to league action with a trip to Audi Field to face D.C. United, and head coach Nancy believes the defeat in that showpiece match will only spur on his players.

“We lost the game. I told them when we won the MLS Cup, we learned from that. And we lost the Concacaf Champions Cup final in Pachuca. We also learned from that,” Nancy said.

“So, at the end of the day, the fact that we win, or we lose, we learn. And for me it was the message.

“And the message also for them was to tell them that I was proud of them. And we need two or three days to move forward and are already.”

Next Stop: The White House
Next Objective: 3 points in DC pic.twitter.com/u1ou0uUtrB

— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) September 26, 2024

Meanwhile, D.C. were on the end of a 4-0 thrashing against the Philadelphia Union in their last encounter, denting their feint hopes of making a late push for the playoffs.

The Black-and-Red sit 13th in the Eastern Conference with four games of the regular season remaining, but are just three points behind the Union, who are in the final playoff position in the division.

Head coach Troy Lesesne lamented his side’s unacceptable display at Subaru Park but acknowledged the enormity of the task awaiting his team ahead of facing the Leagues Cup winners.

“I think urgency is the right word. I want to see more urgency out of our side than what we saw last week against Philadelphia,” Lesesne said.

“That’s not the type of performance want to display, but at the same time we have to move on quickly. We want to take the game to Columbus as much as we can.

“They are extremely talented, and they’ve had lot of success. We know they are a tough opponent. We’re going to try and have the mindset – it is critical against an opponent like this.”

Columbus at home.

— D.C. United (@dcunited) September 23, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

D.C. United – Christian Benteke

Benteke has won 271 aerial duels this season, the most in a single season since Opta began detailed data collection of the MLS in 2010.

The Belgian has won 51 more aerial duels than the entire Crew team, who have won an MLS-low of 220 aerial duels this season.

Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez

Hernandez came off the bench to record a goal and an assist in the Crew’s win over Orlando on Saturday, his second such game as a substitute this season.

The Colombian is one of six players in MLS history to record multiple games with a goal and an assist off the bench in a single season.

MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN

The Crew are unbeaten in six straight meetings with D.C. (W4 D2), though the Black-and-Red did manage a 1-1 draw in Columbus in April. This is the longest unbeaten run by either team against the other since the Crew went on an eight-match unbeaten run over D.C. in 2005-06.

Nancy’s side’s win over Orlando City last time out took them to 56 points on the season after totalling 57 points in the 2023 campaign. Prior to last season, Columbus had never earned more than 54 points in a single campaign before.

D.C. have won only one of their last 10 regular-season home matches (D4 L5) dating back to the beginning of May. No team has collected fewer points at home than the Black-and-Gold (seven, tied with San Jose Earthquakes) over that time.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

D.C. United – 19.8%

Draw – 20.9%

Columbus Crew – 59.3%