The Columbus Crew travel to Exploria Stadium to take on Orlando City SC in a do-or-die MLS Cup playoff match to advance to the Eastern Conference final. Orlando were able to dispatch a toothless Nashville SC side by two 1-0 victories in the first round, while Columbus advanced by way of two home victories in three matches against Atlanta United. Orlando got the better of the Crew in the regular season, drawing in Columbus while scoring a stoppage time game winner in Orlando. The matches have been explosive, combining for 11 goals in two matches, this is a much anticipated game. 

The Black & Gold entered the match relatively healthy; defender Will Sands is the only player on the injury report. Sands tore his ACL back in April. Many Crew fans feared star forward Cucho Hernandez suffered a knock on international duty when he did not make the Colombia game day roster against Paraguay. Hernandez did make the game day roster as an unused sub against Brazil. Head coach Wilfried Nancy quelled any doubts about the Crew’s top scorer, saying Hernandez is “all good.”

Here is how Columbus will line up for the Eastern Conference semifinals:

Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte will start in net for the Crew. Orlando got the better of him during the regular season, scoring six goals total. Schulte will hope that defender Rudy Camacho will play the full match as Columbus’ defense collapsed after the Frenchman was subbed off in the 80th minute last match.

Camacho will start in the center of the defense alongside wing backs converted to center backs Malte Amundsena and Steven Moreira. Amundsen scored an absolute stunner against Atlanta, while Moriera has been a consistent presence and a leader in the back. Both outside center backs play a crucial role in the possession-based model and have contributed four goals and 12 assists between the MLS regular season and playoffs. 

Nancy opted to play wing back Mohamed Farsi over wing back Julian Gressel in the last match. Gressel is considered one of the best right wing backs in the league while Farsi was one of the best players in the MLS Next Pro last season. Gressel had two poor matches to start the MLS Cup playoffs but is a player of high quality and will likely start this match. Joining Gressel will be winger converted wingback Yaw Yeboah. 

The midfield will consist of midfielders Aidan Morris and captain Darington Nagbe. Nagbe just signed a new contract, keeping him in Columbus for at least next year while the team retains an option for 2025. Nagbe is a proven winner and leader and the Crew will be ecstatic to retain his services while still having the flexibility to bring in another high level player as Nagbe’s new contract is reported to be under the max TAM budget ($1,000,000 more than the max salary budget for a player).  

Hernandez will headline the attacking trio along with forward Diego Rossi and midfielder Alex Matan, who both scored in their last match. These three players have amassed five goals and five assists in their three playoff appearances. The three-headed monster that makes up Columbus’ attack will give them every chance they need to advance, but they will face off against goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who is a top tier MLS goalkeeper.