The last time the Columbus Crew faced the Philadelphia Union, it was a second-minute mistake that set the tone for the entire match. Columbus lost 1-0, the second loss of a three-match streak where the Crew was defeated without scoring a goal. Since then, the Black & Gold found a recipe that works and now sit on the better end of a four-match unbeaten streak.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, is in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference, sitting on 29 points — tied for the best mark — through 17 games played. Prior to a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Fire midweek, the Union had gone eight games without a defeat.