Union vs. Columbus Crew SC: Preview, projected lineups, and how to watch

Three days after another Open Cup heartbreak in Houston, the Philadelphia Union are in Columbus for a match that could help bring a playoff game to Chester.

With four games remaining in the regular season, Crew SC sit in fourth place, one point above the Union. As it stands, the two teams would meet again in Columbus for their first playoff game. A result for the away team tonight would preserve the possibility of playoff soccer coming to Talen Energy Stadium for the first time since 2011.

Save for Wednesday’s Open Cup final loss, the Union have been great form, dropping points in only two of their last eight league games. Columbus has been firmly mediocre lately, splitting their last six evenly after winning three straight.

The last time these two teams met at MAPFRE in May, Crew SC claimed a 1-0 victory. The Union hosted the Crew two months earlier, with that one finishing scoreless.

Projected lineups

Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Keegan Rosenberry, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Ray Gaddis; Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin; CJ Sapong, Borek Dockal, Fafa Picault; Cory Burke

Columbus Crew SC: Zack Steffen; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Josh Williams, Milton Valenzuela; Artur, Wil Trapp; Pedro Santos, Federico Higuain, Justin Meram; Gyasi Zardes

How to watch

Where: MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

When: 7:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 29, 2018

TV: PHL17

Streaming: ESPN+