Orlando City SC look to build steam in clash vs. Crew

With a four-match winless streak behind them, Orlando City SC will look to climb the MLS standings beginning Friday night at the Columbus Crew.

The Lions (10-6-8, 38 points) believe a 2-1 victory over New England on Saturday will serve as momentum heading into the final 10 matches of the season.

"The last few games we haven't been to our standard," Orlando defender Zakaria Taifi said Monday. "We know that, so we just want to get back on track because we're one of the best teams in the league. We have the best roster. After that win, only up from here, hopefully."

The Lions are sixth in the Eastern Conference, two spots and six points behind the Crew (12-4-8, 44 points) for home field in the first round of the playoffs. However, Inter Miami sit between the two with 41 points in three fewer matches.

Still, it's a six-point match that could have ramifications when the teams play in Orlando in the penultimate contest of the season on Oct. 4.

Columbus also had a bounce-back win, a 2-1 decision over D.C. United on Saturday following a 3-0 loss at Nashville SC.

The Crew, who are 4-1-1 in their past six matches, believe midfielder Daniel Gazdag is ready to go on a tear with the pressure off him.

He needed a penalty kick vs. D.C. United for his first goal in 16 matches since being acquired in a trade with Philadelphia, where he was the Union's career goal leader with 59 from 2021-25.

"There are always times when you struggle with goals, but obviously it was bad that it happened when I joined the new team, so I wanted to score as soon as possible," he said.

Orlando will counter on Friday with one of the top duos in the league in Martin Ojeda (12 goals, nine assists) and Marco Pasalic (10 goals, four assists).

"We know they're very good," Taifi said of the Crew. "They have good individuals, but so do we, so it's going to be a great game."

--Field Level Media