Introduction Major League Soccer Philadelphia Union versus Columbus Crew prediction team news lineups preview for the second time in a week the Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew will Contents clash with their Wednesday encounter occurring at Subaru Park as the Major League Soccer MLS regular season resumes for both sides Philly are a point behind the Eastern Conference playoff line despite winning their previous domestic encounter last month 3 to Zer over Nashville SC while the newly crowned leagues Cup champions are third in the East though they lost their last MLS Match 2 to1 versus Atlanta United match preview it was a disappointing end to the League's cup for the union who missed out on a place in the next conaf Champions Cup CCC on Sunday losing the third place playoff versus the Colorado Rapids on penalties 3 to one in a match that ended tied at two after normal time Jim curtain's men had have nine games left in the regular season to try and avoid what would be an even bigger disappointment as they find themselves narrowly below the Eastern Conference postseason line and in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017 to their credit though this team have started to build a little momentum and close that playoff Gap losing just one of their previous four MLS Affairs while only suffering one defeat in normal time in nine successive competitive fixtures four of their final nine regular season contests take place at Subaru park with Philadelphia unbeaten after 90 minutes in eight consecutive home matches across all competitions winning their previous two League games by a combined margin of 8 to one so far in the 2024 MLS campaign they have only claimed maximum points on three occasions at Subaru Park The Joint fewest in the league losing two domestic home contests this year when scoring first traditionally the union are among the strongest defensive units in MLS but they have regressed a little this season conceding 42 goals the most for them in a single domestic campaign since 201950 on a joyous night at lower.com field the crew exercised their Champions Cup Demons by defeating Los Angeles FC 3 to1 to lift the League's Cup trophy that is their second title in nine months under manager Wilfried Nancy and their second International Tournament Victory after winning the campions cup in 2022 to Zer over Cruz aul Columbus returned to the MLS season on a two-match domestic winless run squandering a 1 to zero advantage and losing 2 to1 to Atlanta United in their previous League encounter in July three of their four regular season defeats this year have occurred away from home though overall they have been a much better Road team in 2024 winning six matches as the visitors two more than the previous domestic campaign because of their run to the Champions Cup Final and their leagues cup Triumph the crew have plenty of opportunities to gain some ground in the Eastern Conference table currently Five Points behind FC Cincinnati and 13 back of first place inter Miami but with three games in hand on both sides the crew eliminated the Union in the leagues cup semi-finals last week 3 to one but have not beaten them at Subaru Park since the 2015 MLS campaign 2 to one losing their last five visits to Chester team News Isaiah laflor missed the third place match for the Union on Sunday as he is recovering from a right knee injury while Damen low will be suspended for this encounter due to Yellow Card accumulation Tai baribo was back in the lineup in their League's cup fixture this weekend after missing their semi-final defeat through suspension netting a brace and finishing the tournament as the top scorer with seven goals in their previous MLS encounter Daniel gazdak was the star of the show scoring a hatrick in a comfortable victory over Nashville with Andre Blake stopping three shots and collecting a clean sheet on Sunday the crew were once again without Evan Bush because of a wrist injury while Nicholas Hagen got the start between the sticks instead of First Choice goalkeeper Patrick Schult though Nancy says that was the plan ahead of the competition so expect Schult to return to the starting 11 on Wednesday Andre Herrera is seeking his first MLS appearance after the Argentine rback was loan to the crew from riverplate in early August and aiel Jackson is still looking to make his first regular season start since being acquired from St Louis city in exchange for General allocation money in June coo Hernandez netted a brace and Jason Russell Ro scored once enabling Columbus to win the League's cup this weekend while Diego Rossi had the only strike in their previous League fixture against Atlanta Philadelphia Union possible starting lineup Blake mizo Glens Elliot Wagner Martinez Q Sullivan Flack gazdag baribo or Columbus Crew possible starting lineup Schult morera kamacho chab burko fary Jones Matten arston Rossi Ramirez Hernandez we say Philadelphia Union 2 to0 Columbus Crew the union have built up some nice momentum at home recently and playing a crus side just a few days removed from the emotional high of winning the League's cup we believe the reigning MLS Cup champions will suffer a letdown in midweek thanks for your watching don't forget to click the subscribed button and hit the Bell icon for more