After a disappointing loss in game one, the Columbus Crew needs to win at home on Sunday to keep their season alive. It’s do-or-die time in Columbus for the 2025 campaign, and while Crew fans will take any sort of victory, whether it’s in regulation time or penalty kicks, the Crew need to try to avoid a coin flip penalty shootout.  Looking to put in a much better performance on Sunday in Columbus than they did last week on the road, the Crew have an obvious objective for Sunday. Here is everything you need to know about the Hell is Real playoff edition 2025, part two! 

Opponents at a Glance:

Record: 20-5-9, 65 points

League Form:  W,W,W,D,W

Leading Scorer: Evander, (18)

Assist Leader: Evander (14)

Player to Watch: Evander

The headline transfer saga of the offseason was undoubtedly the battle for Evander’s signature. Following a 2024 campaign worthy of MLS MVP consideration, the Brazilian maestro has followed with a 2025 season of the same quality. 

Blessed with exceptional technical quality, Evander has become the heartbeat of his new team’s attack, pulling the strings from central midfield with flair and precision. His ability to both create and finish chances makes him a constant threat in the final third. Renowned for his pristine ball striking, pinpoint passing, and eye for goal, he continues to showcase the full range of his skill set week after week. Whether ghosting into the box to bury a cross or gliding past a defender before rifling one into the top corner, Evander finds ways to score from anywhere.

While his goal tally grabs the headlines, his passing has been quietly brilliant in 2025. Much like his predecessor Lucho Acosta, Evander has the vision and touch to pick out nearly any pass in the attacking third. Surrounded by an array of dangerous options up front, he’s the creative hub everything flows through—and once again, the player to keep your eyes on when Columbus takes the field Saturday.

How the opponents play: 

Former Columbus Crew standout Pat Noonan enters his fourth year leading Columbus’s fiercest rivals, having engineered one of Major League Soccer’s most dramatic transformations. Once viewed as an expansion punchline, Noonan’s side has evolved into a genuine Eastern Conference contender—disciplined, dangerous and talented. 

When Noonan first assumed control, his team’s rise was fueled by suffocating defensive pressure and lightning-fast attacking transitions. Four seasons later, while those core ideas remain ingrained in their DNA, his squad has matured into a more complete outfit—comfortable sustaining possession and capable of constructing chances through deliberate, patient buildup.

In the past, the Crew have often dictated both tempo and possession against their rivals forcing Noonan’s group to adjust on the fly. In game 1, possession was split almost 50/50, look for the Crew to reassert their possession dominance at home. 

Just like Wilfried Nancy’s Crew, Noonan’s team sets up with three central defenders and wingbacks patrolling either flank. The key distinction lies up top: Noonan prefers a dual-striker system complemented by a free-roaming attacking midfielder—most often Evander—who links play and exploits pockets between the lines. In possession, they’ll patiently recycle the ball from side to side, taking whatever the game offers. Against a deeper defensive block, expect shorter combinations and progressive dribbles. Under high pressure, they’ll look to bypass lines entirely with direct passes into the front two or into space behind the backline. Given the dynamics between these sides, anticipate a blend—measured buildup when possible, but always ready to go direct to stretch the Crew’s defense and create chaos immediately after turnovers.

Without the ball, Noonan’s shape morphs into a compact back five as wingbacks retreat alongside the center backs. Two holding midfielders screen the defense, while the front three—two strikers plus the attacking midfielder—press the opponent’s backline. Noonan’s side did a very good job winning the ball of the Crew on Monday and will look to do the same again Sunday in Columbus. 

What’s notable this season, though, is Noonan’s shift toward a more conservative defensive line. His team currently ranks 19th in MLS for Passes per Defensive Action (PPDA) at 14.03—below the league average of 13.02 and a significant departure from their league-leading 9.79 just a year ago. The approach is deliberate: steer play wide, block central channels, and pounce when the ball hits the flanks to launch immediate counterattacks.

How the Crew Can Win

Simply put, the Crew has to win on Sunday. Wilfried Nancy said, “Nothing has changed, we still need to win the second game,” at a press conference last week. While that’s obviously true, it will be much easier said than done for the Black & Gold on Sunday. Here’s what the Crew can focus on to extend their season and force game 3. 

1. Dominate Possession: The Crew has built a reputation as one of the best sides in the league at maintaining possession and using it to build attacks. In game one, they weren’t nearly dominant enough on the ball. Not only does it allow the Crew the ability to create opportunities, but it also allows them to control the match and keep dangerous opponents from having too many opportunities on the ball to hurt the Black & Gold. 

2. Rest Defense and Transition Control: The Crew dominates the ball in nearly every contest, often committing numbers forward in attack. That aggressive posture naturally leaves space behind the backline the moment possession turns over. Expect Nancy’s staff to emphasize “rest defense”—ensuring the attacking shape is organized and balanced so the Crew can immediately counterpress when the ball is lost. Their opponents thrive on quick, direct transitions, so the Crew’s ability to stifle those early outlets will determine whether they dictate the match or get caught chasing.

3. Box Defending: If there’s one recurring vulnerability in this Crew team, it’s defending inside their own penalty area. Whether dealing with cutbacks, second balls, or crosses, they’ve been far from convincing. Their rivals know this and will look to exploit those moments relentlessly. To win Game One—and ultimately the series—the Crew must defend their box with urgency, anticipation, and cohesion.