Our prediction for this MLS match:
DC United will be aiming to build on a hard-fought win over New York Red Bulls when they take on Columbus Crew in the Major League Soccer. The capital club are determined to book their place in the playoffs, and seeing that New York Red Bulls are breathing down their neck, this has to go down as yet another must-win game for the home side. Midfielder Kevin Paredes, who limped off with injury in the last league match, is unlikely to feature in Sunday’s clash.
Both Flores and Reyna are sidelined with injuries, but there are no suspended players in the home team. The Crew, on the other hand, quickly bounced back from a 2-1 loss to New York Red Bulls, with the team beating Orlando City in the last league match. Columbus aim to keep their playoffs hopes alive as well, but seeing that DC United are a real force to be reckoned with at home, the visitors are unlikely to grab something from the match. Caleb Porter can’t count on the likes of Artur, Kitchen, Molino, and Morris for Sunday’s clash.
Highlighted Player (Felipe Martins):
Felipe Campanholi Martins is a Brazilian footballer who was born on September 30, 1990 in Engenheiro Beltrao. After playing for the likes of PSTC-Londrina, Atletico Catarinense and Campo Grande during his youth career, he started his senior career at Padova.
The Brazilian midfielder appeared in no more than four league matches for the Italian club and in 2009 he moved to Switzerland, signing a deal with FC Winterthur. At the end of the season he joined fellow Swiss Super League club Lugano and he quickly established himself as a first-team regular. In the winter of 2011 Felipe moved to MLS, signing a deal with expansion team Montreal Impact.
He scored his first MLS goal in a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City on May 5, 2012 and he has been playing an important role in the team ever since. Felipe has yet to represent Brazil at senior level, but he could play for Canada national team in the future as he applied for permanent residency.
Highlighted Team (Columbus Crew):
Columbus Crew are an American soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The Black & Gold participate in the Eastern Conference and in 2008 they won both the conference and the MLS CUP final. Columbus Crew defeated New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final, with the likes of Moreno, Marshall and Hejduk scoring for the Black & Gold in the title game.
The club welcome their rivals at Mapfre Stadium, the venue which was opened on May, 15 1999. The current capacity of the stadium is 19.968 and it has to be noted that Mapfre Stadium is the first soccer-specific venue ever built for a MLS club.
A number of high-profile players were part of Columbus Crew in the past, but Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the most famous footballer that wore the black and yellow shirt. Schelotto played for Columbus Crew from 2007 to 2010 and during his spell with the Mapfre Stadium outfit the Black & Gold won the aforementioned MLS Cup.