Wilfried Nancy insists that Columbus Crew’s Campeones Cup final defeat in midweek will not deter his side from achieving their goals in the MLS playoffs this season.
The Crew were edged out on penalties by Mexican side Club America after Malte Amundsen’s opener was cancelled out by Victor Davila before losing 5-4 in the shootout.
But attention now turns to league action with a trip to Audi Field to face D.C. United, and head coach Nancy believes the defeat in that showpiece match will only spur on his players.
"We lost the game. I told them when we won the MLS Cup, we learned from that. And we lost the Concacaf Champions Cup final in Pachuca. We also learned from that,” Nancy said.
“So, at the end of the day, the fact that we win, or we lose, we learn. And for me it was the message.
“And the message also for them was to tell them that I was proud of them. And we need two or three days to move forward and are already."
Meanwhile, D.C. were on the end of a 4-0 thrashing against the Philadelphia Union in their last encounter, denting their feint hopes of making a late push for the playoffs.
The Black-and-Red sit 13th in the Eastern Conference with four games of the regular season remaining, but are just three points behind the Union, who are in the final playoff position in the division.
Head coach Troy Lesesne lamented his side’s unacceptable display at Subaru Park but acknowledged the enormity of the task awaiting his team ahead of facing the Leagues Cup winners.
“I think urgency is the right word. I want to see more urgency out of our side than what we saw last week against Philadelphia,” Lesesne said.
“That’s not the type of performance want to display, but at the same time we have to move on quickly. We want to take the game to Columbus as much as we can.
“They are extremely talented, and they’ve had lot of success. We know they are a tough opponent. We’re going to try and have the mindset – it is critical against an opponent like this.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
D.C. United - Christian Benteke
Benteke has won 271 aerial duels this season, the most in a single season since Opta began detailed data collection of the MLS in 2010.
The Belgian has won 51 more aerial duels than the entire Crew team, who have won an MLS-low of 220 aerial duels this season.
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Hernandez came off the bench to record a goal and an assist in the Crew’s win over Orlando on Saturday, his second such game as a substitute this season.
The Colombian is one of six players in MLS history to record multiple games with a goal and an assist off the bench in a single season.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN
The Crew are unbeaten in six straight meetings with D.C. (W4 D2), though the Black-and-Red did manage a 1-1 draw in Columbus in April. This is the longest unbeaten run by either team against the other since the Crew went on an eight-match unbeaten run over D.C. in 2005-06.
Nancy’s side’s win over Orlando City last time out took them to 56 points on the season after totalling 57 points in the 2023 campaign. Prior to last season, Columbus had never earned more than 54 points in a single campaign before.
D.C. have won only one of their last 10 regular-season home matches (D4 L5) dating back to the beginning of May. No team has collected fewer points at home than the Black-and-Gold (seven, tied with San Jose Earthquakes) over that time.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
D.C. United – 19.8%
Draw – 20.9%
Columbus Crew – 59.3%
FC Cincinnati v Los Angeles FC: Noonan expecting tricky match against US Open Cup champions
Pat Noonan is expecting Los Angeles FC to pose a tough test to FC Cincinnati, especially as they are coming off the back of their US Open Cup success.
Cincinnati sit second in the Eastern Conference and are currently unbeaten in four matches, alternating between a win and a draw in that run.
They let a lead slip twice in a 2-2 draw with Nashville SC last time out though, and Noonan knows his side cannot let their guard down at TQL Stadium on Saturday.
"[LAFC] are coming in on a high," Noonan said. "They're a very strong team. They just won a trophy, and rightfully so, they should be coming in with good energy and excitement.
"They've won some [finals], they've lost some, but they have experience in getting there and knowing what those games look like.
"So, this isn't a final, but what you've come to expect from them is a team that knows how to get to big games and play in big games."
LAFC had lost each of their last four finals before Wednesday's triumph but put that behind them to beat Sporting Kansas City 3-1.
In MLS, they are fourth in the Western Conference, having failed to win any of their last five games.
Head coach Steve Cherundolo was pleased with their Cup success but acknowledged that they still had big improvements to make in the league.
"The theme of the last couple of weeks is that we've been hurting ourselves. Teams were not beating us, we were beating ourselves," Cherundolo said.
"That's troublesome and frustrating, but it's also a good problem to have. It means we're in control of our own destiny and this team understands that."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Cincinnati – Luciano Acosta
Luciano Acosta has recorded 90 goal contributions over the last three seasons (39 goals, 51 assists).
He is just the second player in MLS history to record at least 90 goal contributions over a three-season span (Sebastian Giovinco – 92 from 2015-17).
Los Angeles FC – Mateusz Bogusz
Mateusz Bogusz has recorded a goal contribution in each of his last seven appearances on the road.
There has been only one longer single-season streak since the start of the 2020 season: Gustavo Bou – eight straight in 2021.
MATCH PREDICTION: FC CINCINNATI WIN
Cincinnati have won just three of their last eight regular-season home matches (D1 L4). They have scored 14 goals in the three wins in that time but managed just two goals in the other five matches.
Los Angeles won each of their first two meetings with Cincinnati, recording a 2-0 win in Los Angeles in April 2019 and a 2-1 win in Cincinnati in April 2022. LAFC are the only opponent Cincinnati have faced more than once in regular season play and have never come away with a point.
However, LAFC are winless in five straight regular season matches (D2 L3) following a 3-1 loss at FC Dallas on Saturday. Los Angeles have had only one longer winless run in regular season play in club history, going eight straight without a win in July-August 2021.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Cincinnati – 40.9%
Draw – 26.7%
Los Angeles FC – 32.5%
Postecoglou lauds 'under pressure' Ten Hag ahead of Old Trafford test
Ange Postecoglou believes Erik ten Hag has done a "fantastic job" at Manchester United ahead of Tottenham's visit to Old Trafford this Sunday.
Ten Hag, who has won the EFL Cup and FA Cup during his tenure with the Red Devils, has been the focus of criticism for a lack of identity in his time at the helm.
The Dutchman led United to their worst-ever Premier League finish last term, along with conceding 58 goals - the most they have let in during their time in the top flight.
But Postecoglou, along with his opposite number, has endured a difficult start to the campaign, with Spurs 10th in the early-season standings with seven points.
The Spurs head coach has come under fire for his team's slow start, having previously said that he "always win trophies in his second season."
And the Australian's upcoming assignment is no easy task against a side Tottenham have historically struggled against at Old Trafford.
United have won 24 Premier League home games against Spurs – only Arsenal have beaten a team more often at home in the competition’s history (25 vs Everton).
Postecoglou has also seen his side fail to perform away from home, despite having taken 14 points from his first six Premier League away games in charge.
Since, Spurs have managed to take 14 points from 15 games away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (three wins, five draws and seven defeats).
Among ever-present Premier League teams across the last two seasons, no side has won fewer away games since the start of November 2023 than Spurs' three.
Bournemouth (24), Nottingham Forest (19) and Crystal Palace (15) are among the clubs to better their 14 away points won in that span.
A result for either side could kickstart their respective seasons, but Postecoglou showered praise on Ten Hag ahead of kick-off this Sunday.
"There’s always some manager under pressure," Postecoglou said.
"There must be a spinning board with all our faces on and whichever it lands on cops it for a week or two.
"He’s done a great job. He keeps mentioning he’s won two trophies and that’s not insignificant.
"Everyone keeps saying that is all I need to do but then there is always something expected after. It is a difficult job.
"It is tough to go to Old Trafford. Irrespective of managers, it is still a rather compelling home record. It is one we will be ready for."
CF Montreal v San Jose Earthquakes: Confidence the key in reaching playoffs, says Pearce
CF Montreal full-back Tom Pearce believes his new side have all the capabilities of reaching the playoffs, preaching confidence within the group as key to their recent success.
After back-to-back defeats to New England Revolution and FC Cincinnati, conceding nine goals in those games, this weekend’s hosts have gone three unbeaten in the MLS.
Montreal currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Philadelphia Union in the final playoff place heading into the last four games of the regular season.
And Pearce, who joined the club from Wigan Athletic in July, has every confidence his team-mates can pull together to keep their campaign going.
“We’re in a good place after picking up seven points out of nine in one week. It’s a confidence booster and, not just the results, but the performances have been good,” Pearce said.
“After the two defeats we had, we got together as a group and just had an honest conversation about how we needed to get the confidence back to turn things around.
“I think since then we have done well in the games; training has been better, and we have that belief that if we keep playing our way, then fingers crossed, we will make the playoffs.”
San Jose, meanwhile, were unable to build on their draw with the Seattle Sounders after going down 2-1 against fellow Western Conference strugglers St. Louis City last time out.
The Earthquakes have won just one of their last five MLS fixtures, leaving them at the foot of the standings and 13 points behind the rest of the pack.
But with four games of the season remaining, interim head coach Ian Russell is hoping his players can leave it all out on the pitch and end a disappointing season on a high.
“As a coach, you try and motivate them by getting them prepared first of all,” Russell said.
“Knowing that as a professional player, it is your job to play and to play hard every game, even though we are out of the playoffs.
“They are battling for contracts, and you would hope that would be enough motivation for them. There has been good energy, but we have started poorly in the last few matches.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Montreal – Caden Clark
Clark has now scored two goals in his last three MLS matches after finding the back of the net just once in his previous 60 regular season appearances dating back to June 2021.
San Jose – Jeremy Ebobisse
Ebobisse scored his 33rd career regular season goal for San Jose in their defeat on Saturday.
Only Chris Wondolowski (167) and Ronald Cerritos (61) have scored more goals for the Earthquakes in the club’s MLS history.
MATCH PREDICTION: MONTREAL WIN
Montreal have won four of their last six home matches in all competitions (L2), including each of the last two. Montreal have suffered only two defeats in their last 12 matches at home dating back to late May (W6 D4).
This will be the Earthquakes’ first visit to Montreal since July 2018, when the hosts recorded a 2-0 victory. In fact, Montreal have won all five of their home matches against San Jose by an aggregate score of 11-2.
San Jose’s 2-1 defeat to St. Louis last time out was their 22nd loss of the year, equalling the second-most defeats in a single season in the post-shootout era (since 2000). Only D.C. United in 2013 (24 losses) have suffered more defeats in a single season in the post-shootout era.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Montreal – 52.3%
Draw – 24.4%
San Jose – 23.4%
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