After consecutive home matches at Lower.com Field, the Columbus Crew is back on the road this weekend when it faces MLS newcomers Charlotte FC on Saturday night at Bank of America Stadium.
Three Things To Know
9 – Columbus is unbeaten in its last nine matches, which is the longest run since head coach Caleb Porter took the helm in the summer of 2019. Now unbeaten for more than two months, the Crew faces a Charlotte FC side that’s currently ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Crew is sixth. A win against Charlotte would give Columbus a seven-point buffer between the teams.
4 – If the Black & Gold can earn three points in North Carolina, it’ll give the club its fourth road win in its last six road matches. Starting with a 2-1 win at Atlanta United FC, the Crew has rattled off wins at Toronto FC and at Chicago Fire FC – the latter being where Juan “Cucho” Hernández came off the bench to score a game winner in his Columbus debut. And speaking of Cucho, he currently has four goals through his first four appearances for the team.
XI? – It will be intriguing to see how the Crew approaches Saturday’s game knowing the club is about to embark on a three-game stint in eight days. Following this match, the Black & Gold are back at home Wednesday night when they host CF Montréal, which is fourth in the Eastern Conference standings. Then, next Saturday, the reigning MLS Cup champion comes to Lower.com Field when the Crew hosts second-place New York City FC. Over the course of eight days, the results from the three games could drastically shake up the Eastern Conference approaching the final stretch of the season.
When They Last Met
The two sides played to a draw in their last meeting on June 18 at Lower.com Field. Then, Erik Hurtado opened the scoring just before halftime in the 41st minute, only for Andre Shinyashiki to produce the equalizer in the 50th minute. This will be the first time the teams have met in Charlotte for a match.
Match Overview
Who: Columbus Crew at Charlotte FC
When: Saturday, July 29 at 7 p.m.
Where: Bank of America Stadium
How to Watch: Bally Sports Great Lakes, MLS LIVE on ESPN+ (Outside of Market)
How to Listen: 97.1 The Fan (English), ColumbusCrew.com (Spanish)
Current Standings: Columbus Crew – Sixth in Eastern Conference; Charlotte FC – eighth in Eastern Conference
Bring your crew
Secure your seat to cheer on the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field this season!
