Crew Coverage pres. by Medical Mutual | Rydström: Rydström: "We are getting better and better"

For weeks, head coach Henrik Rydström has said the Columbus Crew are improving. He’s witnessed it daily – it just hasn’t shown up in every result.

The growth is undeniable now.

Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over LA Galaxy was an example of building a two-goal lead and seeing out the match to claim three points.

On Saturday night, the Black & Gold had an identical situation against Philadelphia Union, but saw out the win and earned a clean sheet.

“We are getting better and better as a team,” Rydström said following a 2-0 win over Philadelphia at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. “After the Toronto game away, we had two days off after that game, then we trained a couple of days and then we had three days off. I was in an Airbnb and didn't leave Columbus, and I was, ‘How do we solve this now?’ 

“After that, I think we have found a way where we can handle different game types and we have three victories, one draw, one loss and then an Open Cup victory. We are getting better as team, and that helps the individual players, also.” 

With the win, the Crew are unbeaten in six of their last seven matches across all competitions, including back-to-back MLS wins in a five-day span.

But beyond the clear example of growth in delivering a shutout performance, Rydström’s right about how the Black & Gold are becoming flexible in their playing style.

Whereas Wednesday night’s opponent, LA, built from the back, which led to longer spells of possession, Philadelphia played with a choppy high press.

“The game demands different things from you, but we are good in we find ways of answering the game,” the coach said. 

Consider it call and response.

So, the Crew started playing long balls that sliced through the Union, allowing Columbus to get in behind. Supporters didn’t even need five minutes to know the tactical shift overwhelmed the opposition.

In the fourth minute, Max Arfsten got in behind the visitor backline and slotted Columbus in front. The USMNT is in blistering form and has three goals and two assists in the last five matches.

The let-up didn’t stop. The home side continued pressing for a second – which Arfsten nearly produced minutes after his first. Eventually, the lead doubled when a lengthy Crew build up led to Nathan Harriel playing the ball into his own goal.

Three minutes into first-half stoppage time, Arfsten had space on the right. Playing a ball into the area, it pinballed three times between Harriel and Union goalkeeper Andre Blake before nestling the net.

“It feels really good, obviously, especially at home,” Arfsten said of the consecutive wins. “It feels like these old feelings that we used to all the time, but, I mean, it's still a work in progress.

“I feel like this club is used to being towards the top of the table, and it's something we still got to kind of strive for. It's a good feeling. We're going to embrace the good vibes and good energy and these good feelings, but we know we still got work to do.”

In recent weeks, there’s been a focus on players unavailable for matches. On Saturday night, the Black & Gold received added a major addition: the return of Mo Farsi.

Farsi made his first appearance since Jul. 6, 2025, after a lengthy injury recovery time, which included a sports hernia surgery. His return to the pitch included a massive roar and a standing ovation, before chants of “Far-si” and “We love Farsi” echoed around the stadium.

There’s a good chance Crew supporters will see more of the wideman shortly.

Including the two previous wins, Columbus is in the midst of four home matches in an 11-day span. Rydström said the supporters have been massive for the club, and he and the players want to reward them.

“First of all, we were so disappointed in ourselves in the first home games that we couldn't live up to the atmosphere here and what the supporters deserve,” he said. “Me as a coach and the players felt like so, ‘Ugh.’ To give them victories [is good].

“I also don't say that we are perfect and that everything is amazingly good, but you see more and more a team that fights for each other and plays with passion and in one way plays together with the atmosphere and the supporters. Then it's nice to have more opportunities to do it. 

The Crew return to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Wednesday night when they host One Knoxville SC, a USL League One side, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16. Tickets are available now.

The club’s MLS campaign resumes next Saturday, when Minnesota United FC visits ScottsMiracle-Gro Field. Don’t miss out.