Massive Predictions: Crew at D.C. United

You know the story by now: Columbus Crew SC has lost four games in a row following a 4-1-1 start to the 2019 season. The Black & Gold can’t score goals, with just one finish in the last four contests, and all of a sudden the defense has conceded on too regular of a basis.

Until last Saturday’s 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo, the Crew weren’t dissatisfied with the way the team was playing, still creating chances and limiting the opponent, but didn’t like the results. But results matter in professional sports and Columbus hopes to get one on Saturday when the team faces D.C. United for the second time in a week and a half.

As we do every week, we asked our staff for their predictions for the game against United.

Jay Homan

Here we are again, 10 days later and not much has changed. Columbus continues to be defensively consistent and D.C. is still a sleeping giant. I don’t expect either team to change their ways from the last several matches. Columbus will have some solid possession which will result in the occasional opportunity that won’t be finished. D.C. will use a formation and starting 111 combination they haven’t tried yet and rely on Wayne Rooney to make things happen. The returning comfort of Audi Field will also ease the United psych, resulting in cleaner touches, and a second goal that Columbus won’t be able to recover from.
D.C. United 2 Columbus Crew SC 0

Patrick Murphy

Sure, D.C. won in Columbus just over a week ago and yes, United is tied for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but the Crew are only four points back despite the recent slide in form and have an opportunity to turn things around when traveling to Audi Field on Saturday. The Black & Gold were the better team when these two last met but, as has been the case of late, just couldn’t find the goal.

I think this game will be similar, as D.C., for whatever reason, is worse at home than the team is on the road. I think United gets the result but the Crew score and Black & Gold fans come out of this contest feeling slightly better about things.
D.C. United 2 Columbus Crew SC 1

Nick Hudak

Unfortunately, the Crew are sitting in a position that they’ve been all-too-familiar with in recent weeks. An offensive slump has taken the team by storm and they seem to have lost their knack for finding the back of the net. They’re back against the Eastern Conference’s best in D.C. United, a team they saw 10 days ago.

In my personal opinion, I don’t believe the scoring issue is something that can be fixed in the short term. This will continue to affect the Black & Gold in the long run unless drastic changes are made. I think Columbus can get a goal, but the shakiness of their defense has me worried as well. There’s been no reason for me to believe that this current losing streak will end soon.
D.C. United 2 Columbus Crew SC 1

Tyler Fisher

It’s another Crew game week, meaning only one of three things. A win, a draw, or something they’ve done for the past four games... a loss. Well, it won’t be so bad right? A D.C. United team that defeated the Crew 1-0 in their last outing, definitely didn’t sit well. Columbus was the better team but Wayne Rooney put the dagger in them with his free kick goal. Will Columbus win away and end their winless streak? Probably. Do I see it happening against United at Audi Field? No.
D.C. United 2 Columbus Crew SC 0

Guilherme Torres

The Crew heads to D.C. in its lowest moment so far in the season, having lost its last four matches and played subpar soccer in each of them. United has had its ups and downs lately, but has been an overall better team in 2019 and that was shown when they beat the Black & Gold in Columbus just 10 days ago.

Head coach Caleb Porter used the full week of training to try to fix things on and off the field and even if I’m confident we’ll see some progress this weekend, I’m afraid it won’t be enough to get that elusive result.
D.C. United 1 Columbus Crew SC

Collin Johnson

The Crew are not good right now. Their inability to score goals has put undue pressure on a once stout defense, leading to the worst losing streak in years. Despite their standing in the East, D.C. is not much better. An offense featuring Wayne Rooney, Luciano Acosta, and Paul Arriola should be able to score more than the 13 goals they currently have on the season (padded by a five-goal outburst against Real Salt Lake). Columbus dominated possession in their match against D.C. just last week but were both unable to score and undone by a Rooney free kick that everyone saw coming as soon as the foul was given. On the road, the Black & Gold will have to avoid such free kicks. D.C. hasn’t been unbeatable at home but the road MLS games are always difficult. The Crew will find the back of the net this week, but the winless streak continues.
Columbus Crew SC 1 D.C. United 1

Mike Crosky

Three losses in eight days, including to the very same D.C. United, Columbus needs to rebound desperately. Even just scoring a legitimate goal in the run of play would be a minor win for the club. The Crew can be victorious if they finally finish the myriad of scoring chances they create. Might this be the game the offense starts to click? Crew fans can only hope! I don’t know if I am predicting with my head or my heart in this one, but I think we will see a draw. Considering how things have been going, Crew fans should take take that as a very positive result.
Columbus Crew SC 1 D.C. United 1

Jimmy Lentz

The Crew has to start finishing early goal-scoring opportunities. At least one. And given that these two teams played each other just a couple of weeks ago in Columbus to a 1-0 loss for the Crew, it will be interesting to see what changes (if any) are made by Caleb Porter. On the one hand, the game-winning goal in the last game was a deftly-placed free kick by Wayne Rooney. Not much Zack Steffen could do about that one. On the other hand, the Crew is obviously seeking a quick turnaround of results, which could lead to Columbus showing something surprisingly new beyond energy via tactics and/or the formation. Either way, the Crew won’t make it easy for D.C. United at Audi Field.
Columbus Crew SC 1 D.C. United 1

Elmer Plasencia

April was a month to forget for the Crew, the team has been held scoreless the last two matches and has dropped every point available in almost a month. It’s clear that changes will need to be made in the summer if the Crew are to turn this ship around. Unfortunately I don’t see things changing against a D.C. team that caused problems for the Black & Gold in their first meeting of the season. Crosses are clearly not working and not finding Gyasi Zardes. Unless Caleb Porter and his attackers find a way to create from the run of play and create space through passing, I don’t see this result being any different.
D.C. United 1 Columbus Crew SC 0

How do you see Saturday’s game going? Can the Crew go to D.C. and get a win? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.