The Columbus Crew will host a Western Conference favorite on Saturday afternoon when the Black & Gold face Los Angeles Football Club at Lower.com Field.
The fixture arrives at an opportune time for a Crew side hoping to regain momentum following a loss in the team’s previous match last week: a 2-0 defeat at NYCFC. For LAFC, the visitors will hope to stop a three-game winless rut in league play.
Three Things to Know
1 – With 23 points from 12 games, LAFC currently sits second in the Western Conference behind Austin FC, but only on goal differential (+13 to +10). Despite the team’s strong start to the campaign, LAFC is also winless in its last three league matches. For Columbus, the game is the team’s only home match this month and offers a chance to play in front of The Nordecke before going back on the road next weekend.
10 vs. 10 – Arguably the two best No. 10s in MLS will face one another on Saturday when Lucas Zelarayán goes up against LAFC striker Carlos Vela. Through 12 matches played this season, Vela already has five goals and three assists. Zelarayán has four goals and an equal amount of assists, but through 10 games this season. This will be the first meeting between the attacking playmakers in MLS. When these clubs last met in 2019, the Crew had another No. 10: Federico Higuaín.
2 – Only two nights will separate LAFC’s last match, while the Black & Gold have had a week to recover and prepare for the game. The visitors played a home match on Wednesday, when they lost, 2-1, to Austin FC. With limited time between games – and a trip across the country – it’ll be intriguing to see what lineup head coach Steve Cerundolo deploys against a Crew team that hasn’t played since last Saturday. This will be LAFC’s fifth match in two weeks, and the team faces El Tráfico rivals LA Galaxy next Wednesday night in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
When They Last Met
Thanks to the pandemic limiting matchups against teams in opposing conferences, this is the first time the Crew and LAFC have met since May 11, 2019. Then, the Crew lost, 3-0 at Historic Crew Stadium. LAFC also won the first league meeting between the teams in 2018 (2-0).
Match Overview
Who: LAFC at Columbus Crew
When: Saturday, May 21 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: Lower.com Field
Tickets: Click here to purchase
How to Watch: UniMás, TUDN, Twitter (English audio)
How to Listen: 97.1 The Fan
Current Standings: Crew – 10th in Eastern Conference; LAFC – Second in Western Conference
Bring your crew
Secure your seat to cheer on the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field this season!
